Tağıyev

August 1922. An American journalist, Jerry Thompson, travels to the Soviet Union and arrives in Azerbaijan. He also visits the Mardakan settlement of Baku, where he meets an elderly man at a garden house. Thompson can hardly believe what he hears. Sitting before him is Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, a once-prominent oil baron, millionaire, and philanthropist who lost all his wealth after the establishment of Soviet rule. Haji recounts the story of his life to the guest—a life that took him from being a humble bricklayer to becoming an influential oil industrialist. January 1873. The successful contractor, wealthy family man, and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin acquires land for oil extraction in the Bibiheybat settlement. Baku is on the brink of an oil boom. Small oil gushers erupt in Absheron. With high hopes, Haji spends all his time searching for areas that might hold significant oil reserves. Yet, four years later, the scene at the site leaves him disheartened—despite all efforts, oil is still nowhere to be found…