Aboozar Amini
Suicide bombings were happend however there are daily lives in Kabul. The documentary <Kabul, City in the Wind>(2018), directed by Aboozar Amini, is impressive because it did not take the portray Kabul of Afghanistan simply as a desolate city groaning in war. But now that the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban has occupied Afghanistan for the first time in 20 years, things have changed completely. Survival has become a goal of life in situations where many people, especially women's lives and rights, are threatened. I could contact Aboozar Amini, born and raised in Afghanistan director, His film <Kabul, City in the Wind>was screened at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2019. I could hear from him the current situation in Afghanistan. Throughout the interview, he appealed for solidarity, pay attention, and support for Afghanistan's cultural artists to the international community, including Korea.
-What do you think about your safety?
=Taliban are not afraid of guns and bullets, they have succeeded to break the guns of the government and those from the U.S, but what they are afraid of is Camera. They don't want to be seen. They know how dark and ugly they are from inside. They are even afraid to be seen by themselves. We can not put a mirror in front of every monster, because if the monster sees himself, he will break the mirror and you. Filmmakers are in that sense the cultural soldiers at the frontline of the development of their societies. In an ideal world, they should be safe and free to work. But Afghanistan is now has fallen into the hands of the extremism, who does not believe in any sort of freedom and progress. The leader of the Taliban just announced two days ago, "no election, no voting, only Islamic Emirates". This means, the freedom of artists, filmmakers and cultural activities has been taken from them, and they should be punished in the strongest sense. Let's not forget that the Taliban has executed many people who were active in cultural fields and cinema and they will do so again and again.
-Would you describe me the daily life?
=Fear can be felt deeply till the bottom of the people's bones. Afghan people are in a state of shock. We know the Taliban. We know the darkness they can cause. They are not changed. People have lost hope. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring them. People feel betrayed by the U.S by government and by the world. It looks like Kabul is losing its life every day bit by bit. People try to escape the country by every means and the possibility they can catch. By air, from the dirt roads anything. It is so heart-breaking to see Kabul as our mother is losing her best children every day. Children of Kabul who loved Kabul so much, now they leave the city, they want to go as far as possible. Kabul was the most precious dreamy city we ever can imagine. But in order to stay alive, everyone escapes. Filmmakers, musicians, writers, journalists all of those who loved Kabul from the bottom of their hearts are now leaving. I escaped as well. I still can not imagine life without my city Kabul. The place I am madly in love with. The dusty and windy city that blows life into my veins. I don't know when I would be able to go back. Tears in my eyes don't let me write.
-When did you escape?
=I left Kabul 2 months ago. But I have family and friends there who needs to be evacuated immediately. As I am writing you now, its been 3 night I didn't sleep, because I am non stop in contact with my family and friends and other filmmakers, artists and cultural activists in Kabul. They are all in danger. We are trying to find a way to evacuate them. It is not easy because of the over crowded Airport in Kabul. But the good things is that our bigger cinema family, coexisting of filmmakers and festivals and cultural institutions worldwide including many from Korea have been very supportive and showed their solidary. This gives me hope and strength.
-What was your first feeling/thought when you hear that the Taliban came back to power in Afghanistan?
=All my dreams faded. Suddenly I felt cold. It was like you miss your mum. I was feeling that all the colors of our beautiful Afghanistan fade into black. All the beautiful music fades out and harsh and aggressive sounds comes in. When they took Kabul over, I felt that I became the loneliest man in the world who has no home anymore, all my brothers and sisters will be lost in every corner of the planet as refugees.
-How did the democratization era affect Afghanistan's film, culture and arts and this generation?
=Our gorvernment in the past 20 years was very corrupt and fraudal, but still a micro democratic atmosphere was created mostly by the artist, filmmakers and media. Instead of fundamentalist school of Islam we had many normal schools where the young generation and old generation could study. Specially Hazara tribe was the most progressive and secular amongst the others. Women were running as the leaders in business and the other part of the societies. In kabul only in west Kabul were hundreds of higher education institutions where kids could learn very up to dates education including foreign languages. There was no censorship whatsoever in our TVs and films. We could criticize who ever we wanted in the media including our president. But today all is gone.
-Your directed film <Kabul, City in the Wind>, is about suicide bombings. Before the Taliban took Afghanistan again, Is there any suicide bombing? Do you have any case use as specific motivation?
=<Kabul, city in the wind> is not about suicide bombing. It is about life and hope. It is about the huge passion of Afghan people for life. No matter how tough life is with all those cowardic suicide bombings people still strive for life and a bit of happiness. That is what Kabul, city in the wind is about. Up untill now the Taliban and ISIS killed many inoccent people in Afghanistan with suicide bombings. Mainly they have been targeting Hazara minorities. Hazaras are the minority tribe with different religious branch. They used to be Buddhist. As you may remember they had two big statues of Buddha in Bamiyan which was dynamited by the Taliban back in 2001. Taliban believe that Hazaras are infidels and should be killed. Now they are back in power, Hazaras are at highest risk. When I was filming Kabul, city in the wind, it took me 3 years the time. during those three years nearly 15 suicide bombing happened against the Hazara people, only in Kabul. Some were far from our shooting place, some were pretty close. On 23th of July 2016, together with thousands of other Hazara people I was demonstrating for equal rights, when 2 big bomb exploded in the middle of the crowd. 100+ people got killed and 400+ people got injured.
-You were born and raised in Afghanistan. What makes you be the film director?
=Afghanistan is famous as the place for thousands of fairy tales. Especially my region is very famous with beautiful tales. As tradition we gather every week and one person verbally tell stories. My father was very good at it. My grandmother too. Story telling is in our blood. Our country is full of high mountains, and I always see a link between stories and mountains. Because when you are surrounded by mountains, or imaginations get stronger. You become more curious what would be behind those mountains. Your eyes can not see it but your fantasy can imagine. Those fairy tales from my childhood were very much asian. I can see that they all has somehow roots in asian ancient stories. I became very curious about Asian stories and got inspired by the Japanese cinema, especially from the 50s. I think almost all the Japanese films made in the 50s are masterpieces. It has a thick connection with war as it has been made after war. Me as an Afghan who's country is always in war can learn a lot from those films. As long as I remember there was war in Afghanistan. I was born in the middle of war of Soviet Union.
- What can Korean filmmakers do to help Afghan filmmakers?
=Include Afghan filmmakers to your film platforms, co production markets and forums. Even if Afghanistan is not in the criteria your platform requires. But at least for a couple of years give the chance to the young Afghan filmmakers. They are just standing on their own feet, they need your support. Raise your voice for the solidarity with Afghan filmmakers. We need every voice these days. Speak to your governors, or MP's or ministers about Afghan filmmakers and cultural curators, see what could be done. Open up co-productions with Afghan filmmakers in diasporas as well. In terms of education, Korea could offer them scholarships or residencies.
- What do you plan to do in the future? Are you in touch with other Afghan filmmakers?
=For sure I will continue making films. There are a a lot of stories that should be told. Now the afgahn filmmakers in diaspora are growing we will plan to be organised and see what we could do collectively. But as said we need a little bit of support from the world to be able to stand on our own feet.
- Do you think Kabul's spring will come back?
=Absolutely. Everything shows that the Taliban are unable to run the country. NO tyranny or oppression will last forever. Unless they truly show they have changed.
