lizzyhollywood Cruel reality, boring movie. Watched this because of 1001 movies list. Disturbing - yes, but that doesn't make a good movie. Simple plot, lots of crying, no fight for yourself or your family, just giving up. Distressed child in a disguise who doesn't understand what is expected from her and just wants to play. Predictable and annoying, as i said lots of crying and nagging, about a girl who worries too much about her hair. Other people try to help her, but she just doesn't give a ****, she doesn't even try and you see nothing, just sobby complains. Why did this one won golden globe for foreign film? "Good Bye Lenin" was way better. Well it seems the horror of real life is really effective if you want award, no one cares about quality. At least it's a quick watch, only 83 minutes.

monise77 As a woman whose great-grandparents fled from the Middle East to Mexico; and then my parents illegally crossed into the United States I can only say thank you to all that made this film possible and for sharing a glimpse of what I was spared from. Regardless if the Taliban was aided by the USA or not this film is excellent and an eye opener. This movie should be watched by all and for many it will be the beginning of a new interest in a country that has no government, infrastructure, nor social or health welfare. You might need to watch it twice to glean from it all of injustices and abuses of the Koran, especially to the widows in which this country has many since most men die. It should not be taken to extremes in the sense that we hate the persecutors, but consider what should be done to help the people for their sake and ours.

Veljo Hagu I cannot help but wonder why's this considered a good movie? I also wonder, did Siddiq Barmak at that time even know what a real movie is supposed to be? Let's not get sidetracked into the "true story" aspect, please. Yes, the situation there was outrageous, all those destroyed lives due to religious fanaticism etc. Living in the enlightened Europe during the Internet age, I already knew all this, so while touching, I cannot say the images truly surprised or shocked me.Thus, while waiting for the story to crawl along, I couldn't help but be annoyed by the obvious flaws. Bland plot (to the point of non-existence), no interesting characters (except for Espandi, who at least managed to look alive during his screen time), poor pacing and uninspired scenery - they all point in a single direction. Writer, director and editor Siddiq Barmak just didn't have anything personal to say. And thus stands my question: why waste 80 minutes, if the story could as well be told in five?

anfeargal This is a very sad movie. Also, a very unfortunate portrayal of the Taliban regime. For a lot of historical reasons, primarily due to humanity's need to care for its young, women have not had the opportunities that men have. However, until recently, very few men had much of an opportunity either. Even in the Western civilized world, 100 years ago and before it was difficult to live long enough to be able to procreate. With that said, I can understand why some cultures treat women differently than men -- even today. But, this movie goes way beyond that. Women certainly were denied many things in Europe and America 100 years ago -- but in no time in recorded history (that I know of)were women systematically treated this way. Without giving anything away, this movie ends very sadly and has a very sad premise. It needs to be seen though. It involves the systematic mistreatment of 1/2 of the population -- beyond anything other than systematic killing. Of course, if such cultures killed women they would cease to exist. Perhaps it shows a fate worse than death.