TFF: No Good Men (MA 15+)

In this sparkling political romantic comedy from Afghanistan, a camerawoman disillusioned with love is surprised to find herself drawn to the country's leading journalist. 

Directed by and starring Shahrbanoo Sadat (Wolf and Sheep, SFF 2017) No Good Men is set in Kabul in the time leading up to the Taliban's return to power in 2021. In this period of great political uncertainty and peril, Naru (Sadat) the sole camerawoman at Kabul's main TV station must deal with a personal crisis. Having left her cheating, abusive husband, she struggles against the odds to gain custody of her young son. Add to that the sexism Naru endures in the workplace and in the course of her duties, it is little wonder she feels strongly that there are “no good men" left in Afghanistan. When she is diverted to a serious news story, rather than the 'female content' usually foisted upon her, she works with Qodrat (Anwar Hashimi), Kabul TV's top journalist. While their initial interactions are guarded, the two soon find in each other something alluring. But the backdrop is anything but romantic as the Taliban encroach, and it seems the window of freedom for journalists, women and civil society is about to be sharply shut. Adeptly playing with rom-com conventions, while conveying the sheer terror of a society on the brink of tumult, Sadat has made a film as daring as it is delightful.

Screening with the short film, A Grief Encounter.

Cast: Shahrbanoo Sadat, Anwar Hashimi, Liam Hussaini, Torkan Omari, Fatima Hassani

Director: Shahrbanoo Sadat

"Intelligent and urgent. Shahrbanoo Sadat is a charming presence in front of the camera and a skilled filmmaker behind in this shrewd and contemporary tale." GUARDIAN

"A laudable, attention-grabbing feature that coasts along breezily on sheer attitude and charm." SCREEN INTERNATIONAL

"Sadat’s confident direction underlines the difficulty of having a mutually respectful romance in a volatile political crisis and systemic misogyny in Afghanistan. Her screenplay is nuanced, with comic touches." SIGHT AND SOUND