Experience Mohsen Makhmalbaf's Gripping Film 'Kandahar' at Eye Filmmuseum

A screening of Mohsen Makhmalbaf's 2001 semi-documentary film 'Kandahar,' which follows a Canadian journalist's dangerous journey into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to find her sister. The film offers a poetic critique of international solidarity and the plight of Afghan women.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf's 'Kandahar,' presented as part of Eye Filmmuseum's programming, delves into the harrowing realities of Afghanistan under Taliban rule through the eyes of a Canadian-Pakistani journalist. The film, which premiered in Cannes months before the 9/11 attacks, chronicles Nafas's perilous journey from Iran into Afghanistan to find her sister, who is contemplating suicide due to desperation. The narrative gradually unveils the devastating consequences of two decades of war, marked by destitution, hatred, and distrust among the Afghan people. Despite the bleak circumstances, the film also portrays Afghanistan's natural beauty and the resilience of its people. Makhmalbaf uses a blend of documentary and feature film elements to deliver a poignant indictment of the international community's lack of solidarity, particularly concerning the fate of Afghan women. The screening features a 35mm print from the Eye collection and is contextualized within programs like '2001 - A Time Capsule,' 'Celluloid,' and 'Eye Classics,' highlighting the film's significance and historical backdrop.