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Film Industry Returns to Afghanistan

   Ira Mellman | Washington 23 September 2010

Photo: photos.com

   Afghanistanâs  capitol  city  was the scene Thursday of something that
   hasnât happened there in quite some time.

   It  was  the premiere of a motion picture about Afghanistan, filmed in
   Afghanistan
   Just a few months ago the busy street outside of Kabulâs Ariana Cinema
   was the scene of a pitched battle when suicide bombers blew themselves
   up in a coordinated attack on the center of the Afghani capitol.
   Thursday,  people flocked to the Ariana to attend the premier of Black
   Tulip,  a  movie  conceived  and  directed by Afghanistan native Sonia
   Nassery Cole.
   The  movie  explores  the  struggles of a Kabul family that sets up an
   open  mirophone  poetry  corner  in  the  city after the ouster of the
   Taliban government in 2001.
   Black  Tulip  was  partially filmed in Afghanistan amid the war waging
   around it.

   Cole  knew  it would be dangerous, and it was. Reports detail that two
   weeks  before  filming  was  scheduled to begin, militants located her
   leading  actress  and  cut  off  both  of her feet. Not able to find a
   replacement,  Cole  decided  to  fill  the role herself. She is not an
   actress.  In  fact, she is the chairman and founder of the Afghanistan
   World  Foundation, a charity dealing with the plight of refugees along
   with womenâs rights.
   Now,  her film has been submitted by Afghanistan as a possible Academy
   Award winner for best foreign film in the Oscar competition.
   Cole says she has already been rewarded.
   "Oh  my  God,  I  want an Oscar. I came here in the middle of the war,
   shot  a  movie  and  nobody  got  hurt.  I made it back home alive and
   brought  it  back here and here everybody is watching it tonight. That
   is  my  Oscar. If the Oscars would be gracious enough to nominate this
   film  and  win  something  it  will  be  a  win  for  my  country, for
   Afghanistan."
   Cole  says  in  making  the film, she didnât want to focus on just the
   war.  She  said  âI  wanted  to tell a real story about the people who
   dream and who hope the way we do."
   How was the film received?
   Afghan  film  maker Mahmood Hashimi was in the audience. He said â"The
   movie  is  incredible  in  general,  it  is  a  great  production  and
   interesting and it keeps you interested."
   At one time, Afghanistan had a thriving film industry, but the Taliban
   banned   motion  pictures  and  closed  and  destroyed  the  countryâs
   theaters.

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