An amateur travelogue produced by Peter Dobing and George Theaker of a visit to the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, then part of the Soviet Union. The filmmakers travel to the city of Samarkand capturing local people at both the Central Bazaar as well as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Outside the city in the foothills along the Silk Road, they take in views of the Himalayas looking toward both Afghanistan as well as China. Title: ‘Ten Best’ Gold Star Award Snow falls on a woodland scene...

An amateur travelogue produced by Peter Dobing and George Theaker of a visit to the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, then part of the Soviet Union. The filmmakers travel to the city of Samarkand capturing local people at both the Central Bazaar as well as the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Outside the city in the foothills along the Silk Road, they take in views of the Himalayas looking toward both Afghanistan as well as China. Title: ‘Ten Best’ Gold Star Award Snow falls on a woodland scene changes to three Russian soldiers marching through Red Square in Moscow. A crowd of visitors are silhouetted in the shadow of Saint Basil’s Cathedral. The sequence ends on blossom growing on an almond tree. Title: Peter Dobing and George Theaker present Title: The Face of the Earth Title: Samarkand is 2500 years old Blossom groves on almond trees growing in the Uzbek countryside, the snow-capped Himalayas mountains in the distance. An older man stands beside a stone wall, a woman attends to her child beside an almond tree. Two older men recline on benches chatting. A man leads a goat and its kid along around, nearby a second man relaxes against a bail of straw. In the city of Samarkand, the streets are busy with pedestrians and farmer carrying their produce to market. Crowds of mainly women wonder around stalls set up at an outdoor market. One stall sells vases of flowers while a nearby shop sells clothing, a fountain is nearby. Inside the Central Bazaar or Siab Bazaar more stalls selling meats and other food produces. A man purchases a bag of dried fruits that are weighted out on set of scales. Stall holders sit beside their produce as shoppers walk past looking at the various colourful goods on display. Another stall sells roasted walnuts, one of those behind the counter filling a bag for a customer. Back outside a small boy walks beside a number of large sacks. Stalls nearby sell goods including one selling goats’ cheese to two visitors. Standing nearby they sample their purchase. Outside a local school two mothers wait for their children to appear. Nearby five girls play together in the street. A man sits on the steps near to the entrance of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, a boy walks over swinging his school bag. Intricate and colourful designs decorate the exterior of the 15th century mosque. A local man washing his hands, feet and mouth using water from a tap just outside the mosque. A western tour group climb a set of steep steps and listen to a guide speak outside the mosque. They walk around the exterior of the building. Inside a factory women sit at long tables sowing traditional decorative dresses. The film changes to a stage where a group of musicians and dancers perform a traditional dance. Their performance ends and the audience applaud as the curtains close. In the foothills of the Himalayas the remnants of an ancient city laid waste by Genghis Khan. Against the backdrop of the Himalayas mountain range a group of are silhouetted admiring the views. A bus drives along a road, part of the old Silk Road through Central Asia. Two Uzbek women, one old the other young, look at the camera. A car is decorated for a wedding as the happy Uzbek couple walk past. The film ends on the happy smiling faces of Uzbek men women and children. End title: Samarkand