Synopsis:
Amidst the wreckage beneath the ruined statue of the Buddha, thousands of families struggle to survive. Baktay, a six-year-old Afghan girl is challenged to go to school by her neighbour's son who reads in front of their cave. Having found the money to buy a precious notebook, and taking her mother's lipstick for a pencil, Baktay sets out. On her way, she is harassed by boys playing games that mimic the terrible violence they have witnessed, that has always surrounded them. The boys want to stone the little girl, to blow her up as the Taliban blew up the Buddha, to shoot her like Americans. Will Baktay be able to escape these violent war games and reach the school?
- "Ecumenical jury" the 38th Molodist Film Festival, Ukraine, 2008.
- "Cine-club" (FICC jury) the 38th Molodist Film Festival, Ukraine, 2008.
- "Golden Deer" the 38th Molodist Film Festival, Ukraine, 2008.
- "Silver Mirror" The South Film Festival, Norway, 2008.
- "Founders Prize", the 4th Traverse City Film Festival, USA, 2008.
- "Special Jury Prize", 14th International Film Festival of Cinema Author, Morocco , 2008.
- "Best Film FIPRESCI Award", 11th Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival Ankara, Turkey, 2008.
- "ENI Windows on the World Prize" for the Best Feature Film, African Asian and Latin American Film Festival of Milan, Italy, 2008.
- " Special Award", Association Club de las 25, Spain, 2008
- " Special Peace Award", Berlin Film Festival, Germany, 2008
- "Crystal Bear", Berlin Film Festival, Germany, 2008
- "Discovery Prize", Sarlat Film Festival, France, 2007
- "Woman & Equality Award", Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece, 2007
- "Daniel Langlois Innovation Prize", Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montreal 2007
- Unicef "Paolo Ungari" special award, Rome International Film Festival 2007
- The TVE Award “La Otra Mirada” by Spanish TV, San Sebastian International Film Festival 2007
- The Special Jury Prize From the 55th San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain, 2007
Afghanistan is a strange country. In a period of 25 years it has experienced many rulers; the communist Russians, Al-Qaeda and the Islamic extremists Taliban and western or laic Christians. Each of these rulers in order to save Afghanistan from the hegemony of the other have initially attacked and destroyed this country. The present day destructions in Afghanistan are not limited to cities and homes.
Now the children of this land in their games fire at each other with wooden arms and play the stoning game with little girls and place mines under each other’s feet in humor.
How will these children who mock the game of war in childhood like adults play with each other and the future of humanity?
Original Title: Buda az Sharm foru Rikht
Director: Hana Makhmalbaf
Cast:
Bakhtay: Nikbakht Noruz
Talib boy: Abdolali Hoseinali
Abbas: Abbas Alijome
Script writter: Marziyeh Meshkini
Cinematographor: Ostad Ali
Sound: Farid Pirayesh
Set designer: Akbar Meshkini
Executive manager: Fakhrodin Ayam
Still photographor: Mehrdad Zonnour
Editor: Mastaneh Mohajer
Sound designer & Mix: Hossein Mahdavi
Music: Tolib Shakhidi
Lab: Arri Film, Germany
Production: Wild Bunch / Makhmalbaf Film House
International Sales:
Makhmalbaf Film House
Wild Bunch (France)
Afghanistan, 84 minutes, Colour, 35 mm, 2007
- Hong Kong Independent Film Festival, Hong Kong 2014
- Molodist International Film Festival, Ukraine, 2008
- The South International Film Festival, Norway , 2008
- International Film Festival of Cinema Author, Morocco , 2008
- Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival Ankara, Turkey, 2008
- African Asian and Latin American Film Festival of Milan, Italy, 2008
- Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, England, 2008
- Berlin International Film Festival, Germany, 2008
- Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong, 2008
- Gala Film Festival, Lithuania, 2007
- Sarlat International Film Festival, France, 2007
- Kerala International Film Festival, India 2007
- Paris Rencontres International Film Festival, France 2007
- Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece 2007
- Tokyo Filmex International Film Festival, Japan 2007
- Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montreal, Canada 2007
- Rome International Film Festival, Italy 2007
- Ghent International Film festival, Belgium 2007
- Euroasia International Film Festival, Kazakhstan 2007
- San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain 2007
- Toronto International Film Festival, Canada 2007