In Kazakhstan, more than 400 women die from domestic violence every year, while the number of women who end up in hospital after abuse is even many times higher. It is a form of violence that is deeply rooted in Kazakh society. For women it takes a lot of courage to speak out against it. One of the women who dare to do so is Bayan Yessentayeva, a famous blogger with millions of followers, as is journalist Assem Zhapisheva, who has published extensively on the issue. Yessentayeva produced this film, Zhapisheva wrote the screenplay.
A successful influencer, dressed in orange, promotes cosmetic products from a brand called “Happiness” with a mesmerizing sales pitch. The façade of “happiness”, however, conceals quite a different story: her body is black and blue from the many blows her husband has been doling out for years. Her daughter is about to get married, and a similar fate awaits her. Something has to be done.
