Kabul, Between Prayers: A Heartfelt Portrayal of Afghanistan’s Inner Struggles
Filmmaker Aboozar Amini’s “Kabul, Between Prayers” offers a profound look into the life of a young Afghan man torn between violence and daily survival, illustrating the complex social fabric of Afghanistan today. Debuting at the Venice Film Festival, this documentary-style film delves beyond the headlines of war and political chaos, shining a light on the intimate realities of ordinary Afghan lives.
Jia Zhao, producer for Silk Road Film Salon, recounted her commitment to supporting films like “Kabul, Between Prayers,” which are part of a planned trilogy exploring Afghan lives affected by war. She highlighted that this project aims to reveal the layers of Afghan society often obscured by mainstream narratives focused solely on political conflict.
Plot
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.
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