Wajma (An Afghan Love Story)

Wajma (An Afghan Love Story)
Directed byBarmak Akram
Written byBarmak Akram
StarringWajma Bahar
CinematographyBarmak Akram
Release date
  • 20 January 2013 (2013-01-20) (Sundance)
[1]
Running time
90 minutes
CountryAfghanistan
LanguageDari (Persian)

Wajma (An Afghan Love Story) is a 2013 Afghan drama film written and directed by Barmak Akram.[2] The film was selected as the Afghan entry to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards.[3]

Synopsis

The film tells the story of a clandestine love affair in Kabul between Wajma, a 20-year-old law student who wears a headscarf and lives quite freely, and Mustafa, a 25-year-old waiter. Wajma's parents belong to the petty bourgeoisie. Wajma is pregnant: out of wedlock, it is a scandal, a dishonor and a crime. Mustapha refuses the marriage. Wajma's father is called in to solve the problem: he severely beats his daughter, threatens to kill her, and locks her up at the stake. Wajma sets fire to it, escapes, and her father gives her a passport to travel to Delhi for an abortion. She leaves Kabul in tears.

Cast

Awards and nominations

Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival January 2013 Grand Jury Prize Wajma (An Afghan Love Story) Nominated [4]
World Cinema Screenwriting Award Barmak Akram Won
Amazonas Film Festival November 2013 Special Jury Award Wajma (An Afghan Love Story) Won [5]
Luxembourg City Film Festival 2013 Grand Prix Wajma (An Afghan Love Story) Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wajma (An Afghan Love Story)". Sundance. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Wajma (An Afghan Love Story): Sundance Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Wajma, an Afghan love story". Afghan Culture Museum. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. ^ 2013 Festival Catalog
  5. ^ Cimino, Elisa (8 November 2013). "The Lunchbox wins the Voo na Floresta for best film at the Amazonas Film Festival". Cineuropa.