Lezate divanegi (2003) - Joy of Madness

Directed by Hana Makhmalbaf

Starring Samira Makhmalbaf, Mohsen Makhmalbaf

A family affair.

Well the last of the Makhmalbaf clan has directed her first film, Hana Makhmalbaf was 14 when she made this feature covering the events upto the filming of At Five in the Afternoon which was directed by her sister Samira.

The whole of the roughly shot film revolves around trying to get the cast together, a job that in almost any part of the world would be pretty straight forward but not in post Taliban Afghanistan. People are still scared, concerned for their safety and in some cases for their reputations, we see Samira lose her patience as she tries to cajole people into accepting parts in the film.

A gypsy family is convinced that the crew will kill their baby while making the film and a teacher writes a letter explaining why she can't take on the lead role. Kabul, once probably a powerful and beautiful city provides the backdrop, scarred and crumbling, a shadow of its past glory. Fear is the feeling that constantly comes across, at least from the Afghani women because even though the Taliban are finished, the threat of them still pervades the very air.

Being a film director is probably a stressful job but trying to do it in these conditions, it must be almost impossible to get anything completed, well done then to the Makhmalbafs and all the other directors working in the Middle East.

Rough & Ready but recommended to anyone interested in Middle Eastern life and cinema.

Cheers Trev

BBFC rated PG