THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL

THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL

Afghanistan in the sum­mer of 1998: For two years, the Taliban have con­trol­led the coun­try, and the once-flou­ris­hing Kabul is but a shadow of its for­mer self. Where ston­ings are com­mon­place, Zunaira and Mohsen dream of a secu­lar and cos­mo­po­li­tan socie­ty. But then, a tra­gic acci­dent brings Zunaira into the regi­me’s cross­hairs, landing her on death row in the women’s pri­son over­seen by Atiq. He admi­res her and her art. Now it is up to Atiq and his ter­mi­nal­ly ill wife Mussarat to save Zunaira in time. Told in washed-out images, the ani­ma­ted film illus­tra­tes the fra­gi­li­ty of life in a world whe­re huma­ni­ty is not an ever­y­day occur­rence. (TJ)

OPENING FILM OF LUCAS #49
Les hiron­del­les de Kaboul. FR 2019. D: Zabou Breitman, Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec. SC: Sébastien Tavel, Patricia Mortagne, Zabou Breitman. 81 min. Animated film. Original ver­si­on with English sub­tit­les. Suitable from age 12. Recommended from age 16.