At Five in the Afternoon (2003)

In a post-Taliban Afghanistan a young woman (Agheleh Rezaie) attends school against her conservative father's will, hoping to learn more about democracy to fulfill her dream of being the country's next president.

Director:

Samira Makhmalbaf

Writers:

Mohsen Makhmalbaf (novel), Samira Makhmalbaf (screenplay)

Stars:

Agheleh Rezaie, Abdolgani Yousefrazi, Razi Mohebi

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Agheleh Rezaie	...	Nogreh
Abdolgani Yousefrazi	...	Father
Razi Mohebi	...	Poet
Marzieh Amiri	...	Leylomah

Storyline

Nogreh is a young Afghani woman living with her father and her sister-in-law, Leylomah, whose husband, Akhtar, is missing. Beyond the issue of Akhtar, Leylomah is most concerned with how to feed her baby. She cannot provide milk for her baby as her own hunger is preventing her from lactating. Nogreh, however, aspires toward a life in a western styled democracy. Although the Taliban are no longer in power in Afghanistan, traditional forces are still active in the country. Nogreh often displays signs of rebellion, such as wearing a pair of white pumps instead of the traditional slipper beneath her burqa. But mostly, Nogreh wants to be educated. Without her father's knowledge, Nogreh is attending a secular girls school. Ultimately, she wants to become President of Afghanistan. With the help of a Pakistani refugee who likes her as a woman, Nogreh tries to understand exactly what forces led to current world leaders being elected, those forces which she wants to emulate.

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Plot Keywords:

afghanistan | burqa | horse | f rated | male female relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Samira Makhmalbaf had difficulty casting the lead role of Nogreh because many women refused to appear on camera without their burqa. Agheleh Rezaie was her second choice after the initial woman she cast dropped out after Makhmalbaf said she would have to show her face to the camera.

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Connections

Featured in Joy of Madness (2003)

User Reviews

A postcard from Afganistan

What made me write the comment about this film was the post signed by "ingemli". It is easy bullshitting arrogantly about this film while sitting in the air-conditioned cinema, eating pop corns and feeling sleepy. Samira Makhmalbaf went to Afganistan after the Taliban regime was toppled, and decided not to stay a silent observer of a hard life she faced with. Together with her famous father (Mohsen Makmalbaf wrote over 30 scenarios and directed about 20 films) she developed the script and was determined to film it in Afghanistan. It was difficult to find the actors, especially a native woman who would interpret the main character who shows her face, as the country lacks professional actors. Keeping all this in mind, it all ended pretty well with non-professionals. I am not telling that this film is a masterpiece, but it has its value and deserves respect. This is a tale of a young woman who, despite his father's religious fanaticism and prohibition that she goes to school, insists to get educated to become "the president of the republic". She goes to school without her father's knowledge, putting on the white high heels and uncovering her face. The shoes, actually pretty ugly and unsuitable for walking through the ruins, have strong symbolic meaning of her rebelled femininity. Ms. Makhmalbaf follows her heroine and hers family through the hard times of loosing illusions about the possibility not only for social advancement but simple survival. I knew this strange country only by bad news on TV. This film served as a window on its other, hidden side – the ordinary people's life struggle – and that's its most admiring part.

Details

Country:

Iran France

Language:

Dari

Release Date:

20 August 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

A las cinco de la tarde

Filming Locations:

Afghanistan

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$515,144

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bac Films, Makhmalbaf Productions, Wild Bunch

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1