Afghanistan

by Ashwath Anand 2021A4PS2359

The recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban has raised concerns about the future of the country's cinema industry. Before the Taliban's rule in the 1990s, Afghanistan had a thriving cinema culture, with over 100 cinemas and films from various countries being widely shown in Kabul. However, the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islamic law led to a complete ban on movies and other forms of entertainment during their previous rule. They considered cinemas as places of sin and immorality and destroyed many cinemas and burned film reels that they deemed against Islamic ideologies.

The above image shows a destroyed cinema theatre after the Taliban takeover of Kabul

Before the ban, Afghanistan's well-established film industry produced over a hundred films a year, dating back to the early 20th century. The Soviet invasion and subsequent civil war ended the country's thriving film industry. The Taliban's rule further compounded the situation by imposing harsh restrictions on women's freedom, making it impossible for them to work in the entertainment industry. Many actors and filmmakers fled to other countries to continue their work.

After the Taliban's fall in 2001, the Afghan film industry slowly began to rebuild itself with support from international organizations and donors. However, the industry still faces challenges such as a lack of funding, equipment, infrastructure, and censorship from the government. One example is the Afghan movie "Osama" (2003), produced after the Taliban regime had fallen but depicted the harsh realities of life for Afghan women under Taliban rule. The movie portrays a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to support her family, as women were not allowed to work or go to school under Taliban law. While the film was critical of the Taliban's treatment of women, it also showed them as a powerful and oppressive force, which could be seen as legitimizing their rule.

Poster of the movie "OSAMA"

Another example is the movie "Kandahar" (2001), released just before the 9/11 attacks and depicted a fictional journey to Afghanistan to rescue a woman who wants to escape the Taliban. The film portrayed the Taliban as ruthless and barbaric but also portrayed the United States as a potential savior for Afghanistan. This could be seen as promoting the idea of foreign intervention in Afghanistan, which eventually happened with the US-led invasion in 2001.

A still from the film "KANDAHAR"

However, complicated the situation in Afghanistan might be, many talented actors contributed significantly to the county's cinema industry. Despite the challenges faced by the industry, these actors and others like them continue to pursue their passion for acting and storytelling, and their work has helped to keep the Afghan film industry alive.

Salma Hussaini: Born in 1986 in Kabul, Salma Hussaini is a prominent Afghan actress who has acted in Afghan and Iranian films. She started her career in the entertainment industry as a child artist in Afghanistan and later moved to Iran, where she continued to act in movies and TV shows. Hussaini has won several awards for her performances, including the Best Actress award at the Afghan Film Festival in Paris in 2010.

Salma Hussaini

Leena Alam: Born in 1978 in Kabul, Leena Alam is an Afghan actress who has acted in both Afghan and international films. She started her career in the Afghan film industry in the late 1990s and later moved to Pakistan, where she acted in TV dramas. Alam has also acted in Hollywood films, such as "The Kite Runner" (2007) and "Kabul Express" (2006).

Lena Alam

The above clip shows Hassan's heartfelt letter to Amir from the movie "The kite runner"

Cinema in Afghanistan has had a turbulent history, with its thriving film industry destroyed by war and Taliban rule. While the industry has made progress in rebuilding itself in recent years, the Taliban's return to power has cast a shadow of uncertainty over its future. Only time will tell how the Afghan film industry will fare under the Taliban's rule.

 Sources : 

1. "The Unbreakable Spirit of Afghanistan's Film Industry" by Jon Boone, published by The           Guardian on October 5, 2015".

2. "Kandahar: The Taliban's last stand in Afghanistan" by Lyse Doucet, published by BBC             News on November 13, 2001".

3."Afghan Filmmaker Defies Taliban Threats" by Joanne Griffith, published by ABC News on        September 5, 2001".

4. "The Kite Runner (8/10) Movie CLIP - Hassan's Letter (2007) HD"