A fictionalized dramatization of the tragic persecution of ordinary Afghans, this Swiss film is one of the few to look into the internecine wars that plagued this ancient area of the world for decades to come. No political factions are named and non-actors portray the events with authenticity, having lived through similar atrocities. At the beginning, a father is forcibly dragged out of his house by the police with no explanation given, and permanently "disappears." The family continues on as best they can, but one day one of the sons comes across a wounded resistance fighter and helps the dying soldier. His kindness is taken as a traitorous act by the ruling party, and the family is forced to leave the village immediately. Struggling to cross the border with Pakistan where refugee camps are already in operation, the family's hardships increase with each passing mile.
by Eleanor Mannikka
synopsis
