E-Paper
OSAMA
A 12 year-old girl, her mother and a young boy named Spandi, survive the demonstrations organised by Afghan women who had been repressed by the Taliban regime.
OSAMA
Afghanistan / Japan, 2003
Director: Sedigh Barmak
A 12 year-old girl, her mother and a young boy named Spandi, survive the demonstrations organised by Afghan women who had been repressed by the Taliban regime. The girl and her mother work in a hospital.
They soon discover that the Taliban have dismissed everyone working there, closed the gates and made sure that no woman can leave her house unless accompanied by a male member of the family.
With both her husband and brother dead, the mother who has lost her job, has no choice but to change the appearance of her daughter and dress her up as a boy.
The decision terrifies the girl for she is afraid of what will happen if the Taliban find out. As she begins her new job, she makes a small mistake during prayers at a mosque, and the police are instantly suspicious. Osama is the first feature film in the post-Taliban era in Afghanistan. The cast is entirely non-professional.
Screenplay:
Sedigh Barmak
Cinematography:
Ebrahim Ghafuri
Editing:
Sedigh Barmak
Music:
Mohammad Reza Darwishi
Principal cast:
Marina Golbahari, Khwaja Nader, Zubaida Sahar, Mohamad Arif Herati, Hamida Refah
Production: Barmak Films / NHK / le Brocquy FraserLtd (Ireland)
35mm / colour/ 82 mins
Director's bio-note:
Sedigh Barmak was born in Afghanistan in 1962. He got his Masters in Film Direction from Moscow University in 1987. He has written several screenplays and has made four short films and two documentaries.
He has also served as the manager of the Afghan Government Film Organisation for several years. All his works were banned under the Taliban regime, and he himself went into exile in Pakistan when the Taliban came to power.
When the new government was established, he was once again chosen to manage the Organisation. Osama, his first feature has received a Special Mention in the Camera d'Or Section at Cannes this year.
