An intimate fly-on-the-wall documentary portrait of teenage girls breaking the stereotypes set for them by intensely conservative Afghan society, in some cases escaping grinding poverty, gaining self-esteem and confidence as players in Afghanistan’s first ever women’s national football team.
The film follows the team during preparations for their first competitive international matches, concentrating on a number of the players and their journey from growing up under the Taliban, to their life in modern-day Afghanistan and their hopes for the future.
As a child, Roya had to collect waste paper off the filthy, dusty streets of Kabul’s slums in order to find fuel for her family. Found by an Afghan charity helping street children, she received an education and found she had a talent for football. She now plays centre-forward for the national women’s team, but also works teaching and training other children who are still forced to work on the streets to help their families.
Other members of the team recount their problems with the Taliban and how football helped them to see a future in present-day Afghanistan, beset by insecurity and suicide bombings.
The film offers a rare and intimate insight into the lives of young Afghan women, showing them as people individuals striving for a future and not just passive victims.
Produced, filmed and directed by Bahareh Hosseini
Edited by Marta Velasquez
Music by Afghan Music Project.
Up-coming screenings:
Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, W1G 7LP
Bookings:
Email: enquiries@asiahouse.co.uk
Tel: 020 7307 5454
Online www.asiahouse.org/net/Events.aspx
Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP
Screenings:
IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival in New Delhi on 8 March 2010.
BBC World August 8th & 9th (3 repeats)
Bnaff – Best of DOXA Documentary film festival, Canada 2010
Amsterdam Int. Doc. Film Festival, 2009
Montreal Human Rights Film Festival, Canada 2009
One World Film Festival, Prague, 2009
Movies that Matter Festival, Amsterdam, 2009
FrauenFilmTage , Vienna, Austria
DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada, 2009
Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 2009