Kabul, Between Prayers

Raised within Taliban ideology, twenty-three-year-old Samim lives between promises of martyrdom and the ordinariness of farming and family life. His teenage brother Rafi idolises him and those promises, the only vision of the world they have ever known.

Aboozar Amini: ‘As a member of the Hazara ethnicity, a group historically marginalised and oppressed by the Taliban and Pashtuns, one might expect me to harbour resentment towards my protagonist. Yet such judgment fails to satisfy me. As an artist, my foremost inclination is to transcend the impulse to condemn, creating a space where observation can delve deeper. This film does not merely depict another faceless Taliban soldier. Rather, it seeks to engage with him as an individual.

My vision of Afghanistan aims to confront the humanity of my protagonist, even if he espouses radical ideologies. By living alongside him, I hope to hold up a mirror wherein he may glimpse his own reflection, however monstrous it may be. Though there are inherent limitations, I am committed to seizing every opportunity to explore their inner world. Even the smallest window into their psyche is a precious gift that I intend to embrace fully.In this way, this is not a Taliban-sympathising film, but rather a mirror to their faces.’