‘Writing Hawa’ Documents a Woman’s Journey of Emancipation in Afghanistan (Exclusive Trailer)

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As a passionate advocate for women’s rights and a follower of global cinema, I am deeply moved by the upcoming documentary “Writing Hawa”. With its world premiere at IDFA, this film promises to be a powerful narrative that resonates with millions across the globe.

The Afghan film “Writing Hawa,” directed by Najiba Noori and Rasul Noori, will have its world premiere on Nov. 17 at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in the international competition category. This documentary offers a glimpse into the life of a 52-year-old woman from Afghanistan who is striving to break free after her arranged marriage.

Spanning over five years, the documentary titled ‘Writing Hawa‘ narrates the lives of three generations of women belonging to the Hazara family in Afghanistan,” is how you might put it more casually. The Hazaras are a particular ethnicity within the country.

The synopsis describes how director Najiba Noori captures her mother Hawa and niece Zahra as they strive to break free from patriarchal customs. Hawa, who was married off as a child and is now 52 years old, finally gets the opportunity to learn reading and writing. With her daughter’s encouragement, she establishes a small textile business. She travels to the Bamiyan region in search of traditional Hazara embroideries, transforming them into contemporary dresses to sell in Kabul.

Ultimately, Hawa rescues her granddaughter from an abusive situation with her father in a secluded village and relocates them both to the city. Regrettably, the Taliban’s seizure of power in August 2021 significantly disrupts the lives of the three women.

Director Noori remarks that war, brutality, limited education opportunities, and enforced marriages have tormented and harmed countless Afghan women for many years. He shares that his mother’s aspirations were cruelly taken away from her, leaving her to spend decades cleaning and caring for children. Despite this, she never lost her eagerness and determination to learn and live life fully. Hawa is fortunate to be surrounded by boundless love from her kids, who provide her with genuine encouragement to gain an education, achieve empowerment, and attain freedom.

She mentions regarding her movie: “It portrays Afghanistan, both before and after their takeover by a terrorist organization, which has been systematically suppressing women within society.

The film titled “Writing Hawa” was created by Christian Popp through Tag Film, jointly produced with Een van de jongens by Hasse van Nunen and Renko Douze. This co-production is also supported by ARTE France and EOdocs. Funding for this project comes from various sources including CNC, Sundance Film Institute, Doha Film Institute, IDA, Catapult Film Fund, Procirep/Angoa, Docs Up Fund, Madre, FilmAid, and Women Make Movies. First Hand Films handles the film’s distribution outside of its production countries.

In the trailer, Hawa expresses her frustration about always being at home, preceding a clip where she’s seen learning to write her own name. Simultaneously, her daughter praises her efforts, stating that they have enabled her to experience an entirely distinct lifestyle.

The trailer additionally reveals the filmmaker stating, “I only had five minutes to decide” upon the Taliban taking control, as her mother offers some insightful comments.

In the year 2023, the Armenian war documentary titled “1489,” directed by Shoghakat Vardanyan, was awarded the Best Film accolade at IDFA. This year’s event is scheduled to occur from November 14th through the 24th.

Check out the trailer for Writing Hawa below.

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2024-11-05 14:54