FILMS   

Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan
51'
dir. Petr Lom
Canada , Kyrgyzstan 2004
Kyrgyz bride kidnapping custom

panorama

Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan

The ancient Kyrgyz custom of kidnapping brides, which continues to be a very popular way to wed in Kyrgyzstan , is documented here for the first time in the history of film. When a Kyrgyz man decides to marry, he often kidnaps his bride of choice. Usually in the company of a few friends, he rents a car and snatches the woman from the street, taking her to his family home. The latest research indicates about half of Kyrgyz marriages effected by kidnapping occur against the woman's will. Petr Lom's clever documentary follows the dramatic stories of four such kidnappings.