Thanks for checking out our Afgan Star review
Afgan Star is a 2009 Sundance Film Festival Winning documentary tkaing the Cinema Audience and Cinema Directing award. And now the film will be on HBO tonight at 9:30.
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy thanks to HBO and it was a thought provoking and enjoyable if not disturbing at times.
THE GENERAL IDEA
After 30 years of war and Taliban-rule, pop culture has returned to Afghanistan. Afghan Star – a Pop Idol-style TV series – is searching the country for the next generation of music stars. Over 2000 people are auditioning and even three women have come forward to try their luck. The organizers, Tolo TV, believe with this programme they can ‘move people from guns to music’.
But in a troubled country like Afghanistan, even music is controversial. Considered sacrilegious by the Mujahiddeen and outright banned by the Taliban (1996-2001), music has come to symbolize freedom for the youth. While the conflict still rages many of those taking part are literally risking their lives.
Being a documentary review, I have to approach this differently, as it is a presentation of opinions – something that cannot be wrong. I wont lay out a good/bad of this as much as an overall review, with my rating settling how good or bad it does at delievering its message.
Overall
This is a brutal and harsh look at how people are being moved by this entertainment. Its a dramatic sway to both sides of the pendulm. While some are expressing that these contestants should be murdered for singing on TV (literally) others are so enthusiastic and it represents a shining light in their otherwise unhappy lives.
I can’t help but think that this is a big part of why there is no peace. (Not the show – but a bigger picture) The people are at war socially as well as with other countries. While their leadership is taking a political stance based entirely on their religious beliefs, within their own country they have their own people, professing to share those beliefs but then actively participating against it. I imgine that is very frustrating.
And this is not just a look at what is happening in Afganistan, as we can see a parellel of what is going on with this and our own North American culture. This is not just a “what’s happening there” but there is a bigger subtle message for our own lifestyles. We teach our kids that drugs, sex and violence is inappropriate for them to watch, but enjoy music, films and TV that glorify it somewhat openly, making them curious about that which we try to shelter them from.
The documentary makes you THINK, and it makes you feel. There is no greater compliment for a documentary than to have it spark ideas, thoughts and emotions.
So in closing, I give Afgan Star a 9 out of 10.
The film will be presented TONIGHT on HBO. Check your local listings for times and channels.
