University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival Review: Wajma, an Afghan Love Story (2013)

Cast: Wajma Bahar, Mustafa Abdulsatar, Haji Gul Aser
Director: Barmak Akram
Country: Afghanistan | France
Genre: Drama

Editor’s Notes: The following review is part of our coverage of the University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival. For more information on the festival visit their website and follow the organizers on Twitter at @Canadian_Film and @uOttawa.

Every once in a while a film comes along that reminds us that we should appreciate the basic freedoms we enjoy in North America. While Hollywood spoon feeds us various forms of romantic films, it’s easy to forget there are other cultures out there with a completely different set of customs, traditions and beliefs. For example, when I started dating my wife, our parents did not have to meet to make arrangements. In other cultures an agreement must be made with the parents first. We need to be careful to avoid generalizing an entire culture; in Wajma, An Afghan Love Story courtship customs are traditional.

Barmak Akram (Director) asks a lot of Bahar and she completely transforms into a vulnerable young woman afraid to fall in love. Bahar’s performance removes all sense that what is happening is “only” a film. When she goes through pain, the audience feels it.

Two young adults fall in love in the beginning of the film, Wajma (Wajma Bahar) and Mustafa (Mustafa Abdulsatar). Wajma is a beautiful 20 year old woman who was recently accepted into law school. Mustufa is a handsome young man who works at a local restaurant. The two of them are aware of their circumstance, that their love for each other is forbidden. In public their interactions are brief. They make arrangements in secret to meet and spend time together. The two have wonderful chemistry on-screen, their love is never questioned. It’s in these scenes that the audience will see that love is universal. It’s human nature to fall in love and act on those strong feelings. While the scenes are often times fun to witness, it’s heartbreaking to see two people with a wall of traditions preventing them from fully expressing their love. Wajma and Mustafa take things too far which will bring much shame and dishonor to Wajma’s family. The film quickly shifts from light-hearted fun to a fight for survival.

Bahar and Abdulsatar turn in exceptional performances. Their relationship goes through a heartbreaking arc and it’s made more real by their strong performances. Barmak Akram (Director) asks a lot of Bahar and she completely transforms into a vulnerable young woman afraid to fall in love. Bahar’s performance removes all sense that what is happening is “only” a film. When she goes through pain, the audience feels it. Her expressions are spot on, a remarkable achievement for a debut performance. It’s devastating to witness her journey from cheerful young woman to a woman fighting for her life.

The film is incredibly intimate in the way it’s shot. Much of the film takes place at Wajma’s family home, thus there are many tight shots on her family and the way of life. The film has a documentary feel to the way it’s shot, enough to easily peel away any semblance of disbelief. On the topic, the film is advertised as being based on several true stories. Films based on true stories always opens up the floor for speculation on what’s true and what was fabricated. In a sense, this may be a distraction as it’s mentioned in the beginning of the film. The story may pack more punch if the true stories tag were placed at the end of the film, or maybe not at all. The story alone should move the audience, not the fact that some of the events actually took place. We will save that for another article!

Much of the film takes place at Wajma’s family home, thus there are many tight shots on her family and the way of life. The film has a documentary feel to the way it’s shot, enough to easily peel away any semblance of disbelief.

We should warn you that the film is a harrowing watch with one of the most brutal scenes of the year. The violence displayed on-screen is frighteningly real. Wajma’s father has much to lose. There is nothing worse than shame brought upon the family and he gets his point across to the extreme. Once again the audience is offered an extreme reality check. If you’re on a date, it’s time to reflect and appreciate what you have.

The events that happen in the film occur because of the old traditions of the Afghan people. There’s plenty of room to interpret that Akram would like things to change in Afghanistan. Like all films about a foreign culture, it’s important to keep in mind this is merely a snapshot look at a specific series of stories. Akram will no doubt give audiences much to talk about long after the film. That’s the beauty of film, while entertaining it can serve so many educational purposes.

If you’re in the mood to escape the typical Hollywood romantic film, give Wajma a try. The performances are captivating and the direction is bold and pushes the limits. The look and feel of the film makes it easy to escape to the world Wajma lives in. Wajma, An Afghan Love Story has much going on and will evoke numerous feelings in the human spectrum. Just realize that whatever you feel during the film, it’s by design.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Adrian Charlie

Staff Film Critic

I'm from Victoria BC and love watching films from all corners of the world. I'm fascinated by interpreting films and connecting with other film lovers. I love sharp, clever dialogue (QT), beautifully shot films (The Thin Red Line) and a filmmaker who trusts the audience to put it all together and leave room for discussion (PTA).

Latest posts by Adrian Charlie (see all)

• Review: Man of Tai Chi (2013) - October 28, 2013
• University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival Review: Wajma, an Afghan Love Story (2013) - October 27, 2013
• Fantastic Fest 2013 Interview: Randy Moore and Lucas Lee Graham on Escape from Tomorrow - October 11, 2013