Afghan Children
(Batcheh-haye afghan)

by Mehrdad Farid

Iran

Director: Mehrdad Farid

Cinematographer: Behrouz Nazari

Editor: Mehrdad Farid

Production  
PendarFilm
Mail: [email protected]

Distribution:
DreamLab
14 chemin des chirchouliers
06110 Le Cannet
France
Tel: 0033 4.93.38.75.61
Fax: 0033 4.93.68.41.12
Mail: [email protected]

Year: 2002

Beta SP, DV CAM, Colour, 29 min
OV Farsi with French Subtitles

Unreleased

Selected at 59th Venise Film Festival
and at 47th Valladolid International Film Festival 

Among the 3 million Afghan refugees in Iran there are very few who are there legally. About one million children of the illegals have no right to any Iranian education despite being born in the country. Not everyone agrees with this situation and many volunteers have set up clandestine schools to guarantee elementary instruction to deprived children. These schools often face official disapproval which sometimes borders on outright hostility. Through the struggle of a twenty year-old female student to set up classes for the refugees we meet children who, like children all over, are full of life, hopes and aspirations. These aspirations are not dampened by harsh social conditions and the fact that many of them are obliged to work to earn a living. Their essential hope in the future shines through.