Kabul, Between Prayers

Since childhood, Samim's life has been shaped by Taliban ideology; he knows nothing else. Loyal to the doctrine and convinced of its correctness, his greatest dream is to become a martyr… On one side there is the supportive community of fanatical men, on the other the banality of his daily life as a husband and farmer. His little brother, who idolises Samim, aspires only to follow in his footsteps...

This portrait is a rare encounter with a Taliban member, consisting of numerous exchanges on equal terms, without apparent judgement. The result is an ambivalent documentary which, despite offering Amim a mirror image of a kind of monstrosity, remains a powerful description of the indoctrination of a simple human being.

Rightholder: kkiefel@mediawan.com