Editor’s note: The following is a review from a Critical Writing and Reviewing student at the University of Missouri.
Think about a typical Saturday night. Does it involve dancing? A simple pleasure that most of us take for granted is not even legal in other countries such as Afghanistan. “Afghan Star” is a documentary about a competition in Afghanistan much like “American Idol.” This eye-opening film brings attention to the competition itself and cultural differences between countries as well as the differences between the Afghan people themselves.
The film follows four contestants: Rafi, Lima, Hammeed and Setara through their journey in the competition. All four contestants are from different tribes of Afghanistan, which makes for an intriguing competition that works to unify the country. All of their cultural values come together in music. Music, which was not even allowed in their country until very recently. The Taliban banned music from 1996 to 2001. During their reign, the Taliban limited TV and programming. When the TV network Tolo TV came about and produced a show about music controversy arose.
The director, Havana Marking, does not start off slow in her first feature film. The cultural differences are apparent as soon as the film starts with a young boy singing in a rundown house. Marking then immediately starts to reveal women’s issues in Afghanistan. Out of all of the people auditioning for Afghan Star, three are women. Lima and Setara make it through to the top 10 where tempers start to rise. Music is seen as freedom to many people, but dancing has been forbidden for many years. When Setara dances and takes off her veil in the episode she is kicked off the show, threats for her life start to pour in. The audience is on the edge of their seat following this performance. She needs to stay in safe places and cannot go back to her hometown. It is shocking to see just how serious people react to what seems like such an innocent act.
The story is uplifting if for no other reason than to see people like Setara that strive for freedom so passionately that they put their life on the line. You feel personally invested in the story in the way that Marking shot and edited the film. You can see how much they love music in their facial expressions when they step on stage. I found myself wanting to know who would win Afghan Star more than I have ever wanted to know the winner of American Idol. Those contestants want the title of Afghan Star more than any contestant on any reality show I have ever seen. The winner would be a symbol of freedom for their country as well as a unifying factor. 11 million people voted for the winner of Afghan Star, which is about the equivalent of one-third of the population of Afghanistan. This was also the first many people had seen democracy. You feel for these people and what they go through everyday. The film ends with a glimmer of hope. While the concept dancing is still very foreign to some people, music has now become part of their lives in the form of an “Afghan Star.”
by Lisa Appleton
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