Jessica Weiss "Kandahar and Picturing Change"

    Watching Kandahar and then reading Varsi' criticism of the film, “Picturing Change: Makhmalbaf's Kandahar” made me really certain of one thing: I'm an American who is use to watching American films. Basically, from all the movies we've watched, especially Kandahar I found myself wondering if I understood the point of what was going on. Of course, on a basic level I could see that the film depicts the women hidden behind their burga's, the children being brainwashed into religious military training just for some foods, and the suffering of the mutilated victims of the land mines. But there were at least a strong few occasions, I was wondering what to make of what I saw. For example, when Khak repeatedly asks Nafas to buy the beautiful ring, I couldn't understand why there needed to be so much repetition. He must have asked her like 20 times. And he didn't exactly try to persuade her much, except buy saying it matched her eyes. Maybe Middle Eastern culture they use fewer words. I know the boy was desperate for food and money, but then why couldn't he concentrate in school? I know the school was intense, but why was he the only one who couldn't read and remember the Quaran and the info on the weapons?

     Then, once I read Varsi, I realized that it wasn't just me being an American film watcher, but it was also because the film was sort of confusing. As an empathetic person, I found myself wanting to cry at certain points because of the struggle (like when the robbers took the family's belongings and when the children were told no more school because Afghanistan sucks and no one in the world will love you or care), but I just never found a personal connection enough to shed a tear. I didn't know for sure what Makhmalbaf's point was with this fictional (not documentary) film. After reading Varsi, I felt I understood more than I realized. While I enjoyed watched the film because it was so different from any American film I've seen, I agree with Varsi that it lacked character development. Personally, I always love films that are intensely dramatic, psychological and have characters who are flawed, not just good vs. evil. Therefore, watching Kandahar I felt like something was missing: developed characters. I think it is harsh of Varsi to say everyone will just forget Makhmalbaf's film like the Salgado's starving children pictures, but then, Makhmalbaf doesn't really explain further, leaving Varsi and myself to further question his motives and purposes for this film. The ending of the film seemed especially confusing to me. Did Nafas ever reach her sister? Is she stuck in Afghanistan forever? If she is stuck, how will that affect her as a women's issues journalist? These are all question that if they were answered may have given me more clarity, but then again, maybe I'm just not use to being slapped in the face with even obvious information as is done with American films.