2001 saw an unprecedented level of international interest in the lives of Afghani women living under the Taliban. As the war in Iraq took center stage, the media spotlight on Afghanistan’s women diminished and, with it, public knowledge of the dire situation that they still face. What are their lives like now? Have they really improved since a new government took power? Have they gained any real rights or do they still live in fear and repression?
View From A Grain of Sand takes a hard look at the situation and reveals how Afghanistan’s women have systematically had their rights stripped from them over the last 25 to 30 years. Told through the eyes of three Afghani women; a doctor, a teacher and women’s rights activist, the film sheds fresh light and perspective on Afghanistan’s current situation with special focus given to the ongoing battle that women face to gain even the most basic human rights.
Shot over a three-year period in the sprawling refugee camps of Northwestern Pakistan and the war-torn city of Kabul, the women’s personal stories reveal how international interference, war and the rise of religious fundamentalism in Afghanistan have all played a part in adding to their misery. Directors Meena Nanji and Ecesis Fi use powerful, rarely seen footage and a verité style that allows us into the women’s everyday lives. She shows how they exemplify strength and resilience in the face of the seemingly endless, on-going struggle of their fractured, brutalized nation. Though attention has shifted to Iraq, the battle for Afghanistan continues to this day and, as this is written, the situation continues to deteriorate badly. At times such as these, it’s critical to pay heed to those who are most affected, who have the most to lose and who somehow must endure.