Screen Daily:
With exceptional access, Aboozar Amini’s fascinating observational documentary avoids the easy demonisation of its subjects, instead searching for the humanity, sensitivity and banality in lives dedicated to Allah and guns, in more or less equal measure.

Cineuropa
Amini uses the principle of “show, don’t tell” to maximum effect and with profound results. The juxtaposition between the above two moments epitomises the strength of Amini’s approach, letting his subjects reveal themselves through both content and context: the careful innocence of Rafi’s teenage self shines through the setting through which he’s been socialised, while the burden is never placed on the boy himself.

Volkskrant ****
Het is een mirakel hoe de cineast, die zijn film vanuit Nederland moest overzien daar hij in Afghanistan niet veilig is, toch zo’n intiem, ontstellend droef en visueel imponerend portret wist te maken.

Trouw ****
De documentaire ‘Kabul, Between Prayers’ kruipt dicht op de huid van een Talibanstrijder: ‘Voor moslims is het leven een hel’

Synopsis:
A devoted soldier of the Taliban’s ideology that has shaped his destiny since birth, 23-year-old Samim struggles between the alluring promises of martyrdom and the mundanity of his daily existence as a husband and farmer. Samim’s 14-year-old younger brother, Rafi, idolises his elder sibling as he navigates the confusion of adolescence, leaving behind playfulness to enter a world shaped by decades of military intervention and the resulting radicalisation.

Director’s statement:
This film is not an invitation for superpowers to intervene in Afghanistan once more. Rather, it emerges from the perspective of a motherland tending her wounds, knowing that some of her children have been lost to fanaticism, with no clear path home.
As a member of the Hazara ethnicity — whose history in Afghanistan has been marked by resilience through periods of repression, particularly under Taliban rule — one might expect me to harbour resentment towards my protagonist. Yet such judgement fails to satisfy me. As an artist, my foremost inclination is to transcend the impulse to condemn, creating a space where observation can delve deeper.
This film does not merely depict another faceless Taliban soldier. Rather, it seeks to engage with him as an individual. Consistent with my previous work, I eschew the trappings of clichés and political agendas when approaching my subjects. This endeavour is particularly daunting given the extensive media portrayal of Afghanistan over the past two to three decades, often steeped in predetermined narratives and exoticism.
My vision of Afghanistan transcends mere exoticism; it aims to confront the humanity of my protagonist — even if he espouses radical ideologies. By living alongside him, I hope to hold up a mirror wherein he may glimpse his own reflection, however monstrous it may be. Though there are inherent limitations, I am committed to seizing every opportunity to explore his inner world: even the smallest window allows for a precious gift of insight I try to embrace fully.

Directed by: Aboozar Amini
Production: Jia Zhao for MUYI FILM & SILK ROAD FILM SALON
Co-Production: Hanne Phlypo for Clin d’oeil films
Edited by: Annelotte Medema, Cătălin Cristutiu, Neel Cockx, Carlo Francisco Manatad
Cinematography: Ali Agha Oktay Khan
Sound Design: David Vranken, Félix Joie, Ensieh Layla Maleki
Fund: Netherlands Film Fund,
Broadcaster: Human
Distribution NL: Mokum Filmdistributie
Sales agent: Mediawan Rights

Trailer