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  • Return to Afghanistan (2007)
  • Documentary
Return to Afghanistan (2007)
Documentary

Initiated in July of 2001, Pashtun filmmaker Vida Zaher Khadem's documentary about her brother's return to their homeland of Afghanistan takes on deeper meaning than she ever suspected when the male-dominated society of her ...See moreInitiated in July of 2001, Pashtun filmmaker Vida Zaher Khadem's documentary about her brother's return to their homeland of Afghanistan takes on deeper meaning than she ever suspected when the male-dominated society of her Taliban-controlled country. When Vida decided to return to Afghanistan to explore their family tree, even her own uncle tried to dissuade her from overstepping her gender boundaries and assuming the role of director for security reasons. Later, while traveling to the remote villages of her family tribes, Vida was frequently asked to wait in the car while the men in her crew captured their footage. A mere four weeks after returning to the United States, the film crew was witness to one of the most ferocious terrorist attacks in modern history. Realizing that since the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks were based in Afghanistan the American authorities will likely seek her crew out for questioning. Shortly thereafter, Jawad Wassel, Vida's mentor and cinematographer in Afghanistan, is murdered while attempting to complete his own film FireDancer. In the aftermath of that tragedy, Vida sets aside her own film and convinced producer John C. Roche to help her finish FireDancer, which would subsequently become Afghanistan's first ever submission to the Academy Awards. Return to Afghanistan is a far reaching meditation on one woman's quest to remain faithful to her family while railing against a society governed by rules she detests, and attempting to maintain her balance while caught up in a war between the East and the West. Written by William Nix, Executive Producer See less
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Oct 16, 2007

Release date
Oct 16, 2007 (United States)

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Cast

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19 cast members
Name Known for
Dumbali
Self - Village Leader Self - Village Leader   See fewer
Ayse Eldek
Narrator Narrator   See fewer
Fatima
Self - Woman On Hilltop Self - Woman On Hilltop   See fewer
Shireen Gul
Self - Marriage Expert Self - Marriage Expert   See fewer
Hawa
Self - Daugher of Dumbali Self - Daugher of Dumbali   See fewer
Soifoor Jaan
Self - Mine Clearance Self - Mine Clearance   See fewer
Aryan Khadem
Self - Young Cousin Self - Young Cousin   See fewer
Bashir Khadem
Self - Uncle Self - Uncle   See fewer
Zeba Khadem
Self - Mother Self - Mother   See fewer
Gul Mama
Self - Meaning Of Life Man Self - Meaning Of Life Man   See fewer
Murtaza
Self - Young Man In Gazi Self - Young Man In Gazi   See fewer
Naqiullah
Self - Marriage Expert Self - Marriage Expert   See fewer
Prawng
Self - Son of Dumbali Self - Son of Dumbali   See fewer
Sahawalli
Self - Drum Player Self - Drum Player   See fewer
Nabi Ullah
Self - Flute Player Self - Flute Player   See fewer
Jawed Wassel
Self - Friend Self - Friend   See fewer
Abdul Zaher
Self - Father Self - Father   See fewer
Baktash Zaher
Self - Brother Self - Brother   See fewer
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