Up until September 12 Women Make Movies (WMM) has made a part of their Voices of Afghan Women collection available for free streaming. This gives us an opportunity to feel and understand deeper the conditions and lived experiences of Afghan women and their experiences of suffering and oppression. As we watch with concern the new chapter develop with the Talibans having taken over, the least we can do is to take their fears and fate into our hearts by listening to their voices and stories.

These nine films highlight the voices and lives of Afghan women. They shed light on the history of this region and, most importantly, they tell us about and give faces to their sufferings and their fighting against sexual abuse, child marriage, patriarchal traditions and denial of education. They give account of courageous action of bold young women who take the fight for equal rights and seek justice in a dangerous environment. Solidarity and our support starts with listening attentively to their stories.

Here are my recommendations among the films:

Sonita is a 2015 documentary film, made by the Iranian filmmaker Rokhsareh Ghaeemmaghami. It is the story of the young Afghan refugee Sonita Alizadeh, who was planned to be sold as a young, 14-year old bride, so that the marriage of her brother could be financed. She lives in a refugee center in Teheran with her sister and niece and dreams of becoming a rapper artist. But her mother has other plans and comes to get her and bring her back to be sold as a bride for $9000. Her confidence and perseverance make it into a remarkable story.

A Thousand Girls Like Me by Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani from 2018 is a documentary that tells the story of a 23-year old Afghan woman, who is the victim of sexual abuse by her father. He has physically and sexually abused her for 13 years, which has caused several abortions and the birth of a son and a daughter. Her attempts to file charges lead nowhere in the Afghan legal system, but she keeps fighting on her mission for justice and another future for her daughter. It is a moving story of bravery and resilience.

Enemies of Happiness from 2006 by Danish filmmakers Eva Mulvad  and Anja Al-Erhayem. This film was the Grand Jury Prize winner of the World Cinema – Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. It records the campaign against warlords and for democracy of the 27-year old Malalai Joya, the first Afghan woman ever to enter parliament. A heroic portrait of this young woman of determination and with her strong urge for reform in the dangerous life and politics of war-torn Afghanistan! 

Click Voices of Afghan Women for more information and to watch the films.

Rinus, Sept 2021