Afghan Star

Name: Afghan Star
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: June 26, 2009
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 78

2009

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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Afghan Star

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Movie Details & Credits

HBO Documentary Films | Release Date: June 26, 2009 | Unrated

Summary: After 30 years of Taliban and wartime rule, pop culture is creeping back into Afghanistan in the form of Afghan Star, an enormously popular American Idol–type contest. Filmmaker Havana Marking follows the dramatic stories of four of the contestants over three months, from regional auditions to the finals in Kabul, giving us a new, and moreAfter 30 years of Taliban and wartime rule, pop culture is creeping back into Afghanistan in the form of Afghan Star, an enormously popular American Idol–type contest. Filmmaker Havana Marking follows the dramatic stories of four of the contestants over three months, from regional auditions to the finals in Kabul, giving us a new, and more human, look at this troubled part of the world. (Zeitgeist Films) … Expand

Director: Havana Marking

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Ty Burr

One of the most hopeful and heart-rending movies I've seen this year. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Judging from this film, a pop cultural resurgence in Afghanistan seems ultimately unstoppable, even with a resurgent Taliban, if for no other reason than that 60 percent of the population is under 21. Also, this is a country, as we see again and again, that loves to sing. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

If you believe that bringing the questionable virtues of "American Idol" to Afghanistan would do that beleaguered nation no favors, the remarkable documentary Afghan Star will change your mind in an instant. Read full review

Chris Barsanti

Wholly one-third of the country, some 11 million people, watched the finale. Marking's film is too astute to pretend that such fleeting things can bring about peaceful democracy, but it's also perfectly aware that they certainly can't hurt. Read full review

Joe Williams

Of all the films to come out the conflict, Afghan Star is the most provocative, because its message that people are essentially the same is a dubious, double-edge sword. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Focusing on the contestants who make the initial cut -- two men and two women -- the film can't resist wringing some American Idol-style suspense from speculation about who the eventual victor will be. But the movie also leaves no doubt as to who the real winners are. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Fascinating and, when you see Afghan versions of Simon Cowell and Co. reacting to tryouts, a reminder of how fame and the thirst for it is the same in any language. Read full review

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User Reviews

and0ni

Sep 8, 2014

Una interesante visión sobre la vida en Afghanistan. Es admirable que un programa de televisión sea capaz de unir a gente que ha sufrido y ha odiado tanto a lo largo de la triste historia de ese país.

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