This
"Osama" is captured beautifully.
2003's "Osama"
was the first film made in Afghanistan after the
fall of the Taliban regime. Written and directed
by Siddiq Barmak, it is the story of a Afghan
mother and her 12-year-old daughter who lose
their jobs in a hospital after the Taliban close
the facility down...that is followed by the loss
of the husband and son during the war. This
presents a challenge as the Taliban have
commanded that females seen in public must have
a male companion...they are left with no source
of income and no way to create one...thus, the
mother decides to disguise the 12-year-old girl
as a boy. The film follows this decision and the
young girl's attempts to keep this disguise from
being discovered.
The film is blessed with two excellent
performances by Marina Golbahari as "Osama" and
Zubaida Sahar as Mother. These performances, by
what are essentially non-actors, are nothing
short of remarkable. The camera work is simple
yet beautiful...the script powerful and
indicting. What transpires is frightening,
powerful, convicting and challenging...it is
nearly impossible to not watch the screen as
this film unfolds.
There is little else to say. This film is, quite
simply, a must see film.
©
Written by Richard Propes
TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
