FFF Osama SG

Osama

Study Guide Alicia McGivern

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Osama Introduction Questions dir. Siddaq Barmak/ Osama is a film about life for a young Mulan is another film where the Afghanistan-Netherlands-Japan-Ireland- girl under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, central character must change her Iran/83mins/2003 the home of director and writer, Siddiq identity in order to survive. Do you Barmak. Said to be the first film know this film? Describe the story Cast produced in the country since this and compare with Osama. Marina Golbahari Osama extreme religious regime was ousted in Can you think of any other films in Arif Herati Espandi 2002, it premiered at Cannes in 2003 which the central character has to Zubaida Sahar Mother and went on to win a Golden Globe for change their identity? Best Foreign Film in 2004. The film What do you know about Afghanistan? Other cast opens with a quote from Nelson Brainstorm with your class. Mohamad NadUer Khadjeh Mandela - ‘I cannot forget, but I will Mohamad Haref Harati forgive’, which serves to entice the Director Gol Rahman Ghorbandi viewer to speculate on the story as Siddiq Barmak’s filmmaking career Khwaja Nader well as suggest an indictment of the can be seen as a reflection of recent Hamida Refah system on which the story is based. Afghan history. His early interest in The film tells the story of a cinema began in the Park Cinema in Production young girl who has to reinvent herself Kabul. Some 30 years later he Production Designer Akbar Meshkini in order to survive. Living under a observed the Taliban burning film Sound Faroukh Fadace, regime that prohibits her from going to reels in front of the same place. The Behroz Shahamat school and her widowed mother from Park is one of the few cinemas in Original Music working, she dresses as a boy and Afghanistan where his own film Osama Mohammad Reza Darvishi gets a job in a local shop in order to has been shown. Barmak is a central Editor Siddiq Barmak provide for the family. When forced to figure in the rebuilding of Afghan Cinematography Ebrahim Ghafori attend scripture school, other boys cinema. Osama is his own first full- Screenplay Siddiq Barmak torment her and we observe her length feature and the first Afghan Producer Siddiq Barmak conflict as she struggles to hide her feature to be made since the fall of Julia Fraser identity as well as come to terms with the Taliban in 2001. It marks him as a Julie LeBrocquy the enforced passage of her childhood. distinct talent who uses film as a Makoto Ueda While the film does tackle the means of engaging with the political Executive producer plight of women under the Taliban, it is and social realities of his country. Mohsen Makhmalbaf memorable mostly for its striking Born in Kabul, Barmak was Director Siddiq Barmak imagery. This imagery contributes to the making films by the age of 10, using Production Companies Barmak Film, sparse narrative, which relies less on bits of commercial reels salvaged Hubert Balls Fund of the dialogue than on visual storytelling for from cinemas. At the age of 16, he Rotterdam Film Festival its impact. Images of a sodden blue got a job as a sound recordist with LeBrocquy Fraser Productions burka being forced along the street by a the state body, Afghan Film. He then powerhose, a single lock of hair being became second assistant director planted in a pot and being fed by an IV and made his first 8mm short about a drip, or the imprisoned child Osama young billiard player. Despite his looking out at herself skipping in the hatred of the Russians’ invasion of yard all contribute to this harrowing his country, he took the chance to portrait of life under an extreme regime. study film in Moscow and he lived and Director Barmak has long been worked there till 1987. Barmaks’ involved in Afghan filmmaking. It is his conflict with the censors began with hope that Osama will inspire a new his graduation film, which was banned generation to reflect their stories in for being too anti-Soviet as was his films that the world will want to see next film in Kabul where he was and that will contribute to the cultural conscripted to make propaganda. He rebuilding of his country. was then sent to the front line but

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deserted to join one of the cinematic style has much in common and the future. He wants them to be Mojahedin1 groups. Barmak travelled with Makhmalbaf’s own films, such comedies, as he says ‘I really want to for months to try and get film finance as Kandahar, and that of his see our people laughing’. and returned to Kabul in 1992 with daughter, Samira Makhmalbaf, whose the victorious Mojahedin. film At Five in the Afternoon is about Questions Unfortunately, fighting between women in post-Taliban Kabul. All From reading about Barmak’s life, groups continued till the Taliban three films were shot by cameraman what kind of films would you expect moved in in 1996. Barmak fled with Ebrahim Ghafuri. him to make? his wife and son to the north before Since Osama premiered in Do you know of any Irish film-maker fleeing to exile in Pakistan. Cannes, Barmak has announced who tries to make films that reflect Returning to Kabul after the several new film projects. He has the country’s history? Taliban, Barmak along with other film- taken over as head of ACEM – Afghan makers, worked for a revival of Children Education Movement – which 1 See Brief History of Afghanistan Afghan cinema, to make films for Makhmalbaf had set up to address Afghan people. Key to the making of the lack of education for Afghan First Look Osama was support from Iranian refugees in Iran. ACEM has funded A certain amount of a film’s budget director and producer Mohsen several short films and encouraged will be spent on publicity and Makhmalbaf who has dedicated young Afghan filmmakers, as well as marketing. This will include trailers, himself to the regeneration of direct funding towards Osama. The posters, advertisements. The film will Afghanistan and its cinema. Critics of film was an Afghan, Dutch, Irish, be publicised in order to raise its Osama have said that it is in fact too Japanese and Iranian production. profile and attract an audience. Iranian influenced. Whatever about Barmak is currently working on The poster for Osama contains this, there is no doubt that Barmak’s two scripts, set alternately in the past a figure who faces the camera,

fresh film festival 2005 3 Osama flanked by several other people figures in the poster? fairytale about a boy passing under a wearing blue burkas which appear to What kind of audience do you think rainbow and changing into a girl to avoid cover them from head to toe. The would be attracted to this film? work. The girl’s hair is cut off and when central figure is wearing dark clothing Explain your answer. she awakens the next day, she dresses which contrasts with the other blue After you have watched the film, do you as a boy, now named Osama, and garments. The background is yellow. think the poster was effective? Why/not? plants a lock of her hair in a flower-pot. What kind of poster would you choose The Taliban are on patrol as the for this film? woman and her daughter walk to the hospital where people mourn the death Synopsis of a patient. Osama removes the drip The film opens with a quote in Arabic and carries it home. Next morning the translated as ‘I can forgive but I boy with the incense burner recognises cannot forget – Nelson Mandela’. We her and threatens to tell on her. They hear a squeaking sound from a can. A go to a shop where the mother asks point of view shot of a dilapidated the owner for a job for her daughter street shows a boy waving this whose identity she reveals. When a incense burner and offering spells for Taliban arrives at the shop, the two money. He speaks directly to the females have to hide in the back. Next camera and the filmmaker. Two day, while at work, Osama goes to women in burkas rush by, a cart prayer with the owner and learns how to loaded with melons is pushed perform ablutions. A Taliban watches hurriedly along the street. A crowd of her closely from behind. On her way women are revealed, walking towards home with a melon and other food she the camera in demonstration, is convinced she is being followed. She demanding the right to work. There runs down the street which is empty, are shouts that the Taliban are her footsteps echoing loudly. At the coming, and then they appear, driving house, her mother looks out and there Questions through the streets, turning hoses on is no-one there. She accuses her Look at the poster for the film, the crowd. Panic and confusion daughter of attracting attention and Osama. What is your first impression ensues, a woman, girl and the boy proceeds to hide family memorabilia for of this film? rush into a house. Outside women are fear of a raid. Again, the grandmother Describe the different elements of the arrested and thrown into a cage while tells a story to soothe Osama. poster. What do you think the film the creaking can echoes again. Next day, a Taliban arrives at could be about? Which elements of Outside a hospital, people are the shop and demands that as a boy the poster suggest this to you? What leaving and we learn that it is to be she must attend scripture classes. A period is it set in, do you think? Why? closed down. A woman doctor comes in crowd of boys attend the class and are What does the title of this film with her daughter and changes into given turbans to wrap around their suggest to you? Does anything/ uniform. She attends to the male heads. They sit together chanting from anyone else come to mind? If so, patients in very primitive conditions. We the Qur’an, and then play, running does this connection give you any hear a French woman being taken away. around while Osama stays removed more information about the subject Later a man escorts the woman and from them, for fear she reveal her true matter of the film? If so, what? daughter home by bicycle. They are self. Espandi climbs a tree and asks Look closely at the figure in the poster: stopped by a Taliban who orders the her to come up and join him. Another What can you say about this person e.g. woman to cover her exposed feet. At lesson in ablutions takes place in the Gender? Nationality? Age? Costume? home she weeps for the loss of her bathhouse. She stays hidden until Attitude? Explain your answers. husband and brother in wars and ordered to join the group whereupon What is this person doing? What do wishes for a son instead of a daughter. she submerges herself completely in you think this could be about? Her daughter looks on while her the water. Outside, the boys chase her What can you say about the other grandmother soothes her with a and the mullahs watch.

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Back home, her mother tells her a powerful film, full of striking been ousted that we can contemplate to dress as a girl so they can attend a imagery that resonates long after. a future for these children. wedding party. We learn that the groom One’s first response may be in is in Iran. There is dancing and singing reaction to the horror of Osama’s life Questions until a shout goes up that the Taliban are under the Taliban regime. We can What do you think of Barmak’s coming and the women immediately start react in a knee-jerk fashion to the lot portrait of Afghanistan? Describe the wailing as though at a wake. Back at the of women as portrayed in the film, country as suggested by the film. school, suspicions of Osama’s identity which leaves us with an impression of Two other films Kandahar and At Five remain and Espandi tells them she will life under the Taliban. Although they in the Afternoon (See section on climb a tree to prove that she is a boy. have since been removed from power, Director) have a similar style to She gets to the top of the tree, but the the question still needs to be asked, Osama. Find out about these films. mullah punish her by suspending her in a what has happened since? How are How would you describe this style of well. When she is eventually pulled out, women treated now in the new filmmaking? Do you like it? Why/not? crying for her mother, the teachers can Afghanistan where President Karzai Mainstream films about growing up are see that she has begun to menstruate. has been democratically elected? And often called ‘coming-of’age’ stories. With her gender now clear, Espandi runs does this film truly reflect Afghanistan Can you think of any examples? How off weeping, while removing his own of this period? do they compare with this film? turban, having lost his only ally. They call Both this film and Makhmalbaf’s for her arrest and the children hunt her Kandahar portray Afghanistan as an Discussion down before a mullah arrives, forces her extremely undeveloped country with Characterisation of into a burka and throws her in jail. Here people living in very primitive Osama she weeps and looks on at an image of conditions. Although Osama’s mother From the first moment that we see herself skipping. The French woman from has been educated and trained as a the girl Osama walking with her earlier is also in jail. Both she and doctor, because she is a woman, mother, she is set apart from other Osama are led away to a public court. there is no differentiation between females on the street, with uncovered The journalist from the opening sequence her status and that of any other face and patterned clothing. She and is sentenced to death while the woman female. Because none of the women her mother huddle together at a is to be stoned. A mullah arrives and in the film, including Osama, are remove from the large group of agrees to forgive Osama but she is really given a voice with which to protesting women in blue burkas, offered in wedlock to an ancient mullah. articulate their objections, we are only before they are caught up in the She begs for mercy and for her mother, aware of their mass protest at the crowd running from the oncoming before rushing to a hole in the ground to start and then more of a resignation Taliban. The camera then picks her escape. Then she is led away on to their lot, as epitomised by the out, as she wails under a torrent of horseback and at the mullah’s house mullah’s wives or Osama’s water being sprayed to disperse the she is prepared by the other wives who grandmother who relies on myth and crowd. Even when they rush into a talk of the misery of their lives. The legend to explain life. building she goes to the door again to mullah arrives and offers her a choice of Barmak wanted to make a film look out and listen to the screaming chastity belt. She hides from him but is that focussed on the life of women women running for their lives. She found and led up to his chamber. under this regime, but by giving them looks upon an image of herself no real voice he emphasises their skipping, as though observing her Second Look: Impressions powerlessness in the face of the childhood self while this society after viewing of the film Taliban. Although Osama is a child thrusts adult reality upon her. Watching Osama for the first time, I who is a victim of this system, the At this early stage in the film, am struck by the impression it other children are also victims, with Osama is depicted as an individual, conveys of the country, Afghanistan, males forced into the role of both in a childlike and adult way. We so often associated in the media over oppressors. The film certainly does watch her lead her veiled mother the past couple of decades with war, not leave us with any sense of hope around, or warn her of the Taliban’s tragedy, terrorism and extreme and it is only because we watch the arrival. She is frequently shown in close- fundamentalist rule. Undoubtedly it is film knowing that the Taliban have up, observing a situation or looking

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Afghanistan a brief history

Afghanistan, (which literally means statues of Buddha carved into 1997 and again in 2000, production Land of the Afghan) is a mountainous cliffsides in Bamiyan, an act which was increased with the fall of the Taliban. land-locked country located in Central internationally condemned. Following Afghanistan is the world’s largest Asia, with Iran to the west and the 11th of September 2001 attacks producer of opium, with 80-90% of the Pakistan to the right. It has a long on the US, military action led by US, world’s heroin consumed in Europe history and culture going back over Allied and Northern Alliance toppled coming from Afghan opium. 5000 years. The exact population of the Taliban for sheltering Osama Bin Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan is unknown, however it is Laden, suspected of being behind the concerns continue to be raised within estimated to be somewhere around attacks. A process for political the international community about the 21 to 26 million. reconstruction was established later ongoing situation of women in the The four major ethnic groups in that year and presidential elections country, particularly in relation to the Afhghanistan are Pashtoons, Tajiks, were held in 2004. On October the justice system. With the Taliban’s Hazaras, and Uzbeks. While the 9th, 2004, Hamid Karzai became the oppression of women widely majority of Afghans (99%) belong to first democratically elected President acknowledged, there are fears that the Islamic faith, there are also small of Afghanistan. National Assembly the international community would areas of Sikhs, Hindus and even elections are to be held soon. now regard the situation for women to some Jews. The official languages of be much improved whereas outside of the country are Pashto and Dari Life under the Taliban the cities this would not appear to be (Afghan Persian)3. The capital of The Taliban belong to a Sunni Islam the case. Afghan people’s concerns Afghanistan is Kabul, a city which has movement, which emphasises piety about their own security within the suffered much destruction during the and austerity and the family country is evident from the very large many years of war. obligations of men. When in power, number of refugees who continue to In 1979 Soviet troops invaded they instituted Islamic law, live in Iran and Pakistan. However, Afghanistan, but were made withdraw administered by religious police. there are positive developments: in a 10 years later by anti-Communist Punishments included the amputation country where languages came to be mujahideen4 forces. Following the of one or both hands for theft and seen as evidence of a particular collapse of the Communist regime, stoning for adultery. In Osama, we alliegance, with Dari regarded as fighting ensued among the various see a stoning being authorised by a leaning to the west and Iran and mujahideen warlords leading to civil Taliban ‘court’. Pashto to the south and the Taliban, war. The Taliban5 emerged as a force Under this regime, women were the decision has been made that both able to bring order in the country, not allowed to work and their education languages would be official under the seizing Kabul in 1996 and imposing a was limited. They were denied hospital new constitution. set of norms on what had become a treatment to avoid being exposed to chaotic society. male staff. Many women were widows Questions One major mujahideen organiser following years of war and a ruined 1. What impression do you get of was Osama bin Laden, backed by US, economy and could no longer provide Afghanistan from reading the brief Pakistan and Saudi governments. food for their families. As we see in history above? However, in 1998, US President Bill Osama, women were banned from 2. How effectively do you think film- Clinton ordered the bombing of four going out in public unless wearing face maker Barmak has represented sites in Afghanistan which they claimed and body covering burqas and life under the Taliban in Osama? were terrorist training camps. This accompanied by a male relative. included one run by Bin Laden and his Under the Taliban all forms of 3 Osama is in Dari language Al Qaeda organisation, which was said TV, imagery and music, the wearing of 4 plural of mujahid meaning ‘struggler’ to have forged strong connections with white shoes (the colour of the Taliban but often translated as holy warrior. the Taliban. flag) or a too short beard were 5 ‘student of Islam’ from the Arabic In March 2001, the Taliban forbidden. Although opium poppy word talib, meaning seeker or ordered the destruction of two ancient cultivation was reportedly banned in student.

6 fresh film festival 2005 Osama ahead on the bicycle, taking in the world Questions Among European films there around her. Back at home, she behaves From your viewing of the film and the have been several highly successful as a child with her grandmother who discussion above, what is your titles which have offered a child’s view plaits her hair and talks of legends, opinion of the character of Osama? of life, often as a means of recounting while the mother weeps for her dead Is she sympathetic, do you think? recent history. Examples include husband and brother. However, Osama Which of the film’s images is the Cinema Paradiso (Italy), Kolya (Czech is forced to put childhood behind her most striking? Why? What do they tell Republic), Butterfly Tongue (Spain). and from being a weeping child she us about this character? However, the ‘cute’ children of these awakens as an androgynous looking films have very little in common with figure, obliged to go to work. Filmed in Conclusion the observant, increasingly terrified close-up observing her new state in the Osama is undoubtedly a powerful film Osama who, unlike them, speaks little. small mirror, she then goes to plant a that offers a memorable portrait of In reality the frightened Osama is lock of her hair in a flowerpot. Plaintive recent history. Apart from its setting brutally forced into adulthood and there singing reinforces the impact of the however, it’s story of a girl who is little sense of hope for her at the end scene as she walks her mother through reinvents herself in order to survive is of the film. the streets, peopled with the sick, not completely unusual. We can Seen alone, Osama offers a soldiers, men at work. Yet now it is her consider Mulan, or Yentl or even Europa, single, humane but ultimately tragic powerless mother who is huddled while Europa in which a young Jewish boy view of Afghanistan. If seen alongside she stares straight ahead, pulling her in joins the Hitler Youth in order to conceal the other two titles Kandahar and At from passing traffic, or carrying off the his identity. What makes Osama stand Five in the Afternoon2, we get a richer IV drip. It is as though with male status, out is the fact that it is the first film understanding and even a sense of even a fraudulent one, comes male from Afghanistan to give us a cinematic optimism with the latter title. These confidence. But childhood is not glimpse of what life was like during the three films do share a distinctive completely over as later she calls for Taliban period. Although the story of style, they are popular in Europe yet her mother in a nightmare or draws a Osama is sparsely told, Barmak are not often seen in Afghanistan stick figure in the steam of the shop achieves considerable tension through itself. It will be interesting to see what window or watches herself skipping in the quality of his visual storytelling. kind of films are made and what the rain. Terrified she looks over her Osama’s terrified race along the street stories Afghan filmmakers will want to shoulder as she runs from the shop, from the imagined Taliban is as heart- tell in their new democracy. carrying melon and meat, the child’s stopping as any chase scene from a bogeyman now appearing as Taliban mainstream thriller. 2 See Director Section figure. When her mother scolds her, she is dressed as a girl again and is comforted by her grandmother. Barmak has chosen to give Osama little voice. When she does speak, she is pleading for mercy from first her grandmother, then the boy Estiban, the Taliban and finally the mullah. Instead of articulating a response to what is happening, Barmak casts her as an observer of her own life, as though in watching it unfold, she is also observing the role of women in general. With the use of striking imagery, he has created a character whose tragic circumstances give the viewers an insight into life in this troubled country.

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