LOVE MARRIAGE IN KABUL – interview with director Amin Palangi

by GREG KING

Mahboba Rawi is a strong-willed Afghan-Australian woman who has dedicated her life to help orphans in Afghanistan. She is the founder of Mahboba’s Promise and a mother figure for thousands of orphans and widows currently supported by her programs. Abdul, one of these orphans, is in love with Fatemeh, the girl next door. The two have been exchanging romantic letters for almost a year and hope to marry each other one day. But Fatemeh’s father has other plans – he has decided to marry her off to anyone who can offer a large sum of money as her dowry. Devastated, Abdul is hoping when Mahboba arrives for her yearly trip to Kabul, that she will help him again. When Mahboba hears the story, she is very concerned about Abdul, and Fatemeh’s possible fate in a forced marriage, She is determined to make the marriage happen between Abdul and Fatemah.

Amin Palangi is an Iranian born Australian filmmaker who has been making documentaries and fictional films in Australia, Afghanistan and Iran and he followed Mahboda’s journey into Afghanistan for this fascinating and moving documentary.

Greg spoke to Amin to find out about Mahboda and some of the challenges in shooting this film.

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/12h0rm72fjmy9uk/190930_001.MP3

 

Following its success at the 2014 Sydney Film Festival, Amin Palangi’s award-winning documentary, Love Marriage in Kabul, is set to tour to cinemas around Australia with Q&A sessions after each screening.