Visions of Afghanistan - Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame

“Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame” is the latest film from the Makhmalbaf clan, the incredible Iranian family that keeps putting out films on the lives of ordinary people in Iran and Afghanistan.  Hana Makhmalbaf, now 18, has been living a life of cinema, and dropped out of school in second grade at age 8 to improve her education (how ironic that her main character in “Buddha Collapsed” risks everything to go to school).  Check out her lengthy interview at the "Makhmalbaf Film House," the family website.

Bamiyan is the site of the two immense statues of Buddha dynamited by the Taliban months before September 11, 2001, i.e., before all hell rained on them and their al-Qaeda allies.  Hana Makhmalbaf includes documentary footage of that affront to history, religion, and culture, and the film itself is shot at the foot of the ruins.

What to make of this film, which some reviewers have panned as an “obvious” anti-war story?  On one level, you can watch the story of the children (there are few adults in the film) as a sort of suspense yarn: will little Bakhtay (photo, from the Makhmalbaf website) make it, as she navigates the immensity of the valley, with all its dangers?

The imagery is striking, not least of which is the sight of Bakhtay (played with utter ease and credibility by little Nikbakht Noruz, five and a half years old), in a striking green robe, framed by the arid canyons.  At times, there are elements of magical realism, like a kite that catches fire, or a policeman on a traffic island, in a village with no cars.

The “anti-war” message is, yes, obvious in its depiction of boys playing Cowboys and Indians – though the Indians are the Taliban, and the Cowboys are the Americans.  But here is the way the director sees it:

By showing today’s picture of Afghanistan, I tried to depict the effects of the recent years’ violence on the country. So that the adults could see how their behavior affects the younger generation. Children are the future adults. If they get used to violence, the future of the world will be in great danger.

First, it was the Russian communists, then the Taliban showed up, and now the Americans. One was communist, the other Muslim and the last one either atheist or Christian. But they all had one thing common, and that was “Violence”.

I for one don’t have any qualms about Makhmalbaf’s “message,” and her cinematic skills and the talent of her little actors erase any sense of the burlesque.  You care about her characters, especially tiny waif Bakhtay (Nikbakht Noruz should be nominated for someone’s “Most Promising Actress” award – though she might need a stepladder to reach the podium).

No, this is a wonderful film, at times gripping (are the boys just “playing” Taliban, or are they true believers?) and funny (who said six year old Afghan girls don’t know about lipstick?).  And those cranky reviewers?  They are a distinct minority: the film has been racking up awards in film festivals from Berlin to Montreal to San Sebastian.  16 film festivals can't be wrong.