Directed by Siddiq Barmak, is a landmark in world cinema, serving as the first feature film shot entirely in Afghanistan following the fall of the first Taliban regime in 2001. Shot on a minuscule $46,000 budget with a cast of non-professional actors found on the streets of Kabul, the film earned international acclaim, including the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004. Plot Summary and Core Themes

Inspired by a true story, the film depicts the harrowing life of a 12-year-old girl (played by ) living under the oppressive rule of the Taliban.

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