a SIFF 2009 review
Afghan Star a Singing Success Story
It’s not really up for debate, but we tend to forget how lucky we have it here in the U.S. on a daily basis. Not to say times are not hard (my bank account tend to be a lot like my love life, constantly negative), and goodness knows the state of print journalism has made finding writing gigs increasingly difficult, it’s just that overall we fail to realize the resources and institutions in place to offer assistance to us those in many corners of the world almost can’t help but envy.
Lima Sahar on stage in Zeitgeist Films' Afghan Star
You can imagine that is even more the case in a mostly tribal, war-devastated nation like Afghanistan. The rule of law is not that rose-colored version we like (sometimes hypocritically) hold above the majority of the nations of the Earth, basic rights we take for granted like women voting or people signing for their own enjoyment not ones anywhere near the Afghan mainstream.
Enter television. Who knew that this plasma HD idiot box we take for granted could have transformative powers that could rock an entire country to its core? More than that even, who could have believed it would be an “American Idol” knock-off called “Afghan Star” that would do it?
But that’s exactly what has happened, director Havana Marking’s Sundance award-winning documentary Afghan Star showing this pop culture revolution taking place and giving viewers a glimpse inside Afghanistan the likes of which few outside of the country itself even knows about. Under American occupation, the Taliban launching daily offensives to regain their lost power, the film shows that the greatest potential for a democratic nation might not be bullets or bombs, but the site of an empowered citizenry text messaging votes to name their favorite singing superstar.
Marking focuses on four participants: Rafi, a 19-year old man with no interest in politics; Lima, a 25-year-old woman from Kandahar whose music teacher has to smuggle her instruments so they can practice in secret; Hameed, a classically trained singer belonging to the Hazara ethnic group, a group that felt the full fury of the Taliban regime making him an instant hero for his people; and Setara, a 21-yearold woman whose Western fashion sense and Bollywood makeup make her adored by young girls and a target for death threats by males of the older generations.
This quartet of stories is juggled with apparent effortlessness, all getting a chance to make an indelible impression as the voting continues and each contestant comes close and closer to potential elimination. Along the way Marking shows how the country is irrevocably changed by the television contest, and while no once can say what the future will bring it’s hard to imagine a population so invigorated and empowered (11-million people, roughly a third of the country’s population, watched the “Afghan Star” final, even more voted for their favorite singer) could not fail to build on that enthusiasm.
For my part, I almost couldn’t help but be drawn to the two women and their stories a bit more so than that of their male counterparts. The obstacles facing them aren’t just abut how this will change their lives or potentially make them celebrities, they also face the threat of execution by the more religiously intolerant of their country. In fact, after Setara reveals her hair during the competition the level of vitriol and hate thrown her way is downright sickening, and it is during these moments when I couldn’t help but realize what was at stake for these contestants and their supporters was far weightier than a simple singing title.
Yet, in spite of all this potential for violence (or maybe because of it) Afghan Star becomes something hopeful and invigorating. It’s hard not to look at the effect this program is having on the country and not come away thinking military might isn’t the solution a lot of those in power would like us to believe it is. Maybe what we should be doing is promoting more opportunities like these for the people of Afghanistan, find ways to empower them with 21st Century concepts that reach a broad spectrum of the populace and give them a say in things they’d otherwise not have.
Film Rating: êêê (out of 4)
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