Afghan Cinema's First Kiss and Beyond

Shahrbanoo Sadat's "No Good Men" is set to captivate audiences at the Berlin Film Festival, marking a significant departure for Afghan cinema with its blend of romance, politics, and humor. The film centers on a Kabul-based camerawoman grappling with personal challenges, including retaining custody of her son after leaving her husband.

Her life becomes more complicated as she finds herself in a romantic entanglement with a prominent journalist. This develops just as Kabul is about to fall to the Taliban in 2021, creating a backdrop of significant political upheaval.

Sadat, whose previous films premiered at Cannes, consciously moved away from war dramas. She stated her intention to create an authentic film about Afghan women, challenging international misrepresentations and the scarcity of an Afghan film industry. The director also aimed to highlight the existence of "good men" in Afghanistan, countering the dominant narrative of violence.

"No Good Men" is also notable for potentially being the first Afghan film to feature an onscreen kiss and a vibrator, elements Sadat included not as an agenda but as reflections of life. She acknowledges Afghan society's conservatism but believes such topics, when forbidden, increase demand.

While produced for Western audiences, Sadat's primary audience remains Afghan people, though she recognizes the challenges of distribution and potential reception. She believes the film is necessary for Afghan society and hopes it will at least spark conversation, even if difficult.