Month of Respect film special – No Good Men

*No Good Men* was meant to be the first Afghan romantic comedy, but the political reality of Afghanistan in 2021 had other ideas. Director Shahrbanoo Sadat could not ignore the fact that the Taliban were on the verge of seizing power. What should have been a light-hearted love story is therefore set against a menacing backdrop: a romantic comedy about two colleagues who fall in love, whilst war rages and violence is never far away.

Naru, a camerawoman at a television station in Kabul, has little faith in men following her husband’s infidelity. At work, too, she is not taken seriously as a ‘ vrouw ’: time and again, she is sidelined by her male colleagues. When the Taliban are on the verge of seizing power, she is forced to work alongside the renowned journalist Qodrat. Sceptical as she is, Naru expects little from the collaboration. But Qodrat turns out to be not so bad after all…

Shahrbanoo Sadat herself worked as a reporter for an Afghan television station and based *No Good Men* on her own experiences. The role of Naru is therefore tailor-made for her: Sadat plays the part herself. Intended as a light-hearted rom-com, *No Good Men* has ultimately become much more multi-layered: a portrait of war, a reflection on the role of journalism in Afghanistan and a statement on the position of women there. Her film opened this year’s Berlinale.

“A delightful, original film that challenges the Afghan patriarchy” ★★★★ Trouw
“A personal and political drama, but also a love story with funny moments” ★★★★ de Volkskrant

Programme
7.30 pm Welkom
8.15 pm Film starts
10.00 pm Post-screening discussion