The Zartalé Women´s Journey

Zartala is a poor Afghani village inhabited by diseased and hungry, but also colourful, people whose characters are as diverse as the colours of their robes. All the villagers share the same harsh circumstances, which mean that death is painful, but waiting for it even more so. Then two women appear, a humanitarian worker and a member of the local electoral committee. They not only bring the locals medical assistance and education, but also the opportunity to take part in decisions concerning the future of Afghanistan. Though they cannot alter the current destitute state of the villagers, they carry a glimmer of hope for their offspring. The narrative follows the story of Zeinab, a young girl whose efforts to educate herself were cut short when her mother contracted tuberculosis. Following Zeinab and her father on their endless trips from the village to the hospital and back, the filmmaker traces a symbolic journey between blind faith and medicine, illiteracy and education, the world of tradition and contemporary civilisation. The story of Zeinab becomes a symbol for the predicament of the entire village. The director focuses on frank and direct testimony without a voiceover. The invisible camera seems to float freely in space, travelling through the arid and hilly country, locating each of the villagers in turn and giving the audience a realistic view of the hardships they face in this inhospitable country. Inauspiciously, the filmmaker enters into their houses, allowing the viewer to share their inner feelings. The slow tempo, quiet testimonies and gentle music give the harsh reality a poetic dimension, creating an open space for meditation.