Actress of Afghanistan－balletvickie的部落格

ACTRESS of AFGHANISTAN

A young bride silently sobs on the floor watching her mentally disturbed husband gorge on chicken, rub his greasy hands through his hair and scream at her for more, just another chapter in the couple's violent life together.

Film director Saba Sahar anxiously watches the scene by the cameraman, squatting in blue jeans and wearing a bright pink headscarf.
" Cut ! " she calls.

The first Afghan female in her profession, Sahar, 36, has become a household name after acting and directing for more than half her life. She is adored by Afghan women.

Like other Afghan directors, Sahar says finding actresses is her top challenge in an ultraconservative Muslim country where many view acting as unlslamic and inappropriate for women.

The Afghan film industry says suicide attacks and bombs threaten the livelihood of it's cinema just as it's lack of quality equipment.

"Some Afghans think cinema is a bad place for girls," said 19-year-old Deba Barekzai, who plays the young bride in Sahar's 15-part TV series. "Working in cinema has caused me lots of problems and difficulties."

Considered too dangerous by her family to train in Afghanistan ---because of disapproving relatives and the Taliban ---Barekzai went to neighbouring Iran to study acting.

Sahar is part of a handful of female Afghan directors who focus on violence against women in a bid to both employ women on screen and expose their plight.

Nine years ago she set up her production company Saba Film specifically with this aim.

" I have two messages for Afghan women and girls. First they should never think they are weak, second they must have self-confidence," said Sahar.