I am angry-sad. It's my de facto mood when watching documentaries about human rights abuses, particularly involving women in the Middle East.
'And Still I Sing' feels like a sequel to 2009's 'Afghan Star' (2009) despite having different directors. They can be watched individually, with full understanding, but, together, provide a timeline for the Afghanistan version of American Idol.
Under the false liberation of the USA, the female 'Afghan Star' contestants play with their lives as they compete against religious chauvinism. More than a decade later, as shown in 'And Still I Sing', the competition is flashier and better organized but the enemy remains the same - only males have been the winners, and some male viewers want the women dead.
The dreadful twist, which sometimes makes 'And Still I SIng' feel like a thriller, is that the USA is about to pull out and the Taliban are coming.
Through the voices of Judge Aryana Sayeed and contestants Sadiqa Madadgar and Zahra Elham, we're presented with unambiguous bravery against the odds.
In forsaken places, hope is dangerous. 'And Still I Sing' will make you rage until you're depressed. As contradictory as I may seem, that's why you have to watch this documentary. It's eye-openingly important.
'And Still I Sing' feels like a sequel to 2009's 'Afghan Star' (2009) despite having different directors. They can be watched individually, with full understanding, but, together, provide a timeline for the Afghanistan version of American Idol.
Under the false liberation of the USA, the female 'Afghan Star' contestants play with their lives as they compete against religious chauvinism. More than a decade later, as shown in 'And Still I Sing', the competition is flashier and better organized but the enemy remains the same - only males have been the winners, and some male viewers want the women dead.
The dreadful twist, which sometimes makes 'And Still I SIng' feel like a thriller, is that the USA is about to pull out and the Taliban are coming.
Through the voices of Judge Aryana Sayeed and contestants Sadiqa Madadgar and Zahra Elham, we're presented with unambiguous bravery against the odds.
In forsaken places, hope is dangerous. 'And Still I Sing' will make you rage until you're depressed. As contradictory as I may seem, that's why you have to watch this documentary. It's eye-openingly important.
