The film is based on the events of the 1921 Zangezur uprising in Armenia, and presents that history from a pro-Soviet perspective.
The film was made at the recommendation of Anastas Mikoyan and the original story was written by Soviet Armenian writer and Zangezur native Aksel Bakunts. However, the writer's involvement ended after his arrest during Stalin's Purges. Although some allege that Bakunts wanted to write a pro-Dashnak narrative for the film, this would have been unlikely, given his pro-Soviet political beliefs.