Skip to main content
Cinefile

January Special : French film Kabullywood harnesses youths' hunger for arts

Issued on:

A group of friends - a musican, an actress, a documentary maker and an artist in the Afghan capital Kabul - decide to follow their dream to establish a culture centre in the city after the Taliban clamp-down on arts.RFi's Rosslyn Hyams speaks to Kabullywood's director Louis Meunier.

Kabullywood, a Franco-Afghan film released in France on 6 February 2019
Kabullywood, a Franco-Afghan film released in France on 6 February 2019 Louis Meunier+DestinyFilms
Advertising

Four friends set about renovating a disused cinema inhabited by the former projectionist and a bunch of orphans.

Roya Heydari plays Shab, a young woman who against the wishes of her brother, hangs out with her male artist friends. Farid Joya is her mean brother Khaled. Ghulam Reza Rajabi is the painter, Mustafa. A contemporary guitar player, Qais, is driven by his desire to compose, and Mohd Qais Shaghasy take this role. The project leader, reluctant at first, but eager to impress Shab, is called Sikander. He's a documentary film maker whose father and police-chief is concerned primarily about his son's well-being and future.

Kabullywood champions freedom of expression in a place where it is curtailed. But it's also about generational misunderstandings. It has the feel of a first feature film, with a certain freshness and intuitive experimentation. However, it's not just any debut. It was made against the odds in Kabul, where Louis Meunier and his crew had to deal with real-life security issues.

Kabullywood Director Louis Meunier (L), actor Omid Rawendah (R), Paris 2019
Kabullywood Director Louis Meunier (L), actor Omid Rawendah (R), Paris 2019 RFI/Sophie Torlotin

The docu-fiction is a brave attempt to show the enthusiasm and convictions of some Afghans to defend and keep art and artists alive.

Listen to the interview with the link above.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.