Varzi acknowledges that in the film "Kandahar" there's very little to no emotional depth portrayed through any of the characters, and that this factor allows for it to be realistic. The plot and lack of individual character backgrounds kept me from focusing on the main characters or those who appeared for a majority of the film, but kept my eyes opened to all characters and the struggles that they were dealing with. Usually with a film, it's an actor's ability to convey the emotions of their character that allows the audience to connect with them, but very little sensitivity and dramatics were given in "Kandahar."
The monotone voices and repetition in many of the characters speeches were the two most significant elements that allowed me to feel the characters' struggles. The young boy who helped Nafas through part of her journey continuously asked for more money, or for her to buy his stolen ring over and over again until he got the answer he wanted. The men with the amputated legs did the same thing, when returning day after day with different lies as to why they needed new sets of legs whether for themselves or a loved one. Rarely raising their voices, they would ask over and over again until they were satisfied with the results they were given.
The individual stories rarely mattered in the film, because the terrible state of living everyone was understood was almost definitely understood. Even the short scenes of families covered in garbs, drinking from unsanitary wells, and young girls being taught the danger of land mines were enough to express the sorrow of the Afghan people.
I really liked your perspective of the film. While I found the unresolved/undeveloped elements of the film to be frustrating, it seems as though it was able to keep you on track to see the deplorable conditions for all the Afghan people.
ReplyDeleteI like that you brought up the repetitive nature of many of the characters who came in and out of the film. I found the repetition to be very frustrating. I almost "tuned out" the young boy and the men trying to get legs.