| Director: | Aboozar Amini |
|---|---|
| Production: | Silk Road Film Salon (Jia Zhao), Clin d’oeil Films (Hanne Phlypo) |
| Running Time: | 102’ |
| Language: | Pashto, Farsi-Dari |
| Country: | The Netherlands, Belgium |
| Screenplay: | Aboozar Amini |
| Cinematographer: | Ali Agha Oktay Khan |
| Editor: | Annelotte Medema, Cătălin Cristuțiu, Neel Cockx |
| Sound: | Ensieh Layla Maleki |
Cinema
Kabul, Between Prayers
Out of Competition
Synopsis
A devoted soldier of the Taliban’s ideology that has shaped his destiny since birth, 23-year-old Samim struggles between the alluring promises of martyrdom and the mundanity of his daily existence as a husband and farmer. Samim’s 14-year-old younger brother, Rafi, idolises his elder sibling as he navigates the confusion of adolescence, leaving behind playfulness to enter a world shaped by decades of military intervention and the resulting radicalisation.
Director’s Statement
This film is not an invitation for superpowers to intervene in Afghanistan once more. Rather, it emerges from the perspective of a motherland tending her wounds, knowing that some of her children have been lost to fanaticism, with no clear path home.
As a member of the Hazara ethnicity — whose history in Afghanistan has been marked by resilience through periods of repression, particularly under Taliban rule — one might expect me to harbour resentment towards my protagonist. Yet such judgement fails to satisfy me. As an artist, my foremost inclination is to transcend the impulse to condemn, creating a space where observation can delve deeper.
This film does not merely depict another faceless Taliban soldier. Rather, it seeks to engage with him as an individual. Consistent with my previous work, I eschew the trappings of clichés and political agendas when approaching my subjects. This endeavour is particularly daunting given the extensive media portrayal of Afghanistan over the past two to three decades, often steeped in predetermined narratives and exoticism.
My vision of Afghanistan transcends mere exoticism; it aims to confront the humanity of my protagonist — even if he espouses radical ideologies. By living alongside him, I hope to hold up a mirror wherein he may glimpse his own reflection, however monstrous it may be. Though there are inherent limitations, I am committed to seizing every opportunity to explore his inner world: even the smallest window allows for a precious gift of insight I try to embrace fully.
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PRODUCTION 1:
Silk Road Film Salon - Jia Zhao
President Brandstraat 13
1091 XD Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: +31 653488758
E-mail: jia@silkroadfilmsalon.com
Web: http://www.silkroadfilmsalon.com
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiazhao/ - LinkedIn
PRODUCTION 2:
Clin d’Oeil Films - Hanne Phlypo
53, Engelandstraat
1060 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 484 97 4 442
E-mail: hanne@clindoeilfilms.be
Web: http://www.clindoeilfilms.be
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/clindoeilfilms/ - Facebook
https://www.instagram.com/clindoeilfilms/ - Instagram
WORLD SALES:
Mediawan Rights - Arianna Castoldi
46, Avenue de Breteuil
75007 Paris, France
Tel: +33 681347849
E-mail: arianna.castoldi@mediawan.com
PRESS OFFICE:
Jia Zhao - Silk Road Film Salon
President Brandstraat 13
1091 XD Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tel: +31 653488758
E-mail: jiazhao2005@gmail.com
Ulteriori addetti/additional press officers: Aboozar Amini - aboozar.amini.hilmandi@gmail.com
