In Her Hands

PG-13

Released Nov 11, 2022

1h 33m

Documentary

List

58%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Filmed across two turbulent years, In Her Hands tells the story of Zarifa Ghafari, who at 26 became one of Afghanistan's first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. The film documents her fight for survival against the backdrop of her country's accelerated unraveling. As Western forces announce their retreat and the Taliban start their sweep back to power, Zarifa and women across the country face a new reality. Amid these tectonic changes, Zarifa must make the most difficult decision of her life.

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Dinos K

The best biopic I've ever seen. Afghanistan was a great Nation before being destroyed by US Army. That's the American "democracy"

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Georgan G

3 & 1/4 stars. This documentary is about a brave Afghan woman who was a mayor until the Taliban took over when the US withdrew.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Kenny M

A haphazard political puff piece that takes entirely too much effort to watch. Confusing at times with a choppy flow of information. Words that came to mind while watching - manufactured, concocted, forced and artificial. But politics ARE involved, aren't they?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

Scott N

Scattershot and discombobulated. A serious lack of context makes this movie hard to follow and thus, to watch.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/30/23

Full Review

Shaun R

I thought the film was well done.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

Nrsimhananda das

A narrative movie could not have surpassed the extraordinary character development in this inspiring, yet deeply disturbing, profound quest for human dignity. Death shadows every action and word in front of and behind the camera. Sometimes I found myself wishing that these real people were actors; their ordeal is just too painful. The eye for detail and steadiness of gaze by the cinematographer captures an empathetic grasp of life staring down fear every moment of the day and night. The real human torment stemming from US policies in Afghanistan is agonizingly revealed. How the filmmakers were given such access to both sides in this conflict is a mystery. I am glad that I watched it; I gained strength from these people. Dogmas are such a scourge upon humanity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/23

Full Review

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Marcel Mettelsiefen

Director

Tamana Ayazi

Director

Zarifa Ghafari

Self

Juan Camilo Cruz

Producer

Jonathan Schaerf

Producer

Tamana Ayazi

Executive Producer

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S. Nicole Lane

Chicago Reader

The film is an introduction to Ghafari’s activism and career, but it shouldn’t be the end of it.

Nov 23, 2022

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

By giving a voice both to Ghafari and — in a few scattered scenes — her fierce opposition, “In Her Hands” does capture with direct immediacy how hard it can be to loosen up a culture with a tradition of rigidity.

Nov 18, 2022

Full Review

Devika Girish

New York Times

At points, the lack of context is not just sloppy but irresponsible.

Nov 16, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

As mayor from 2017, what was she able to accomplish before it all began to fall apart? We have no idea. Nor can we quite suss why the filmmakers give nearly equal focus to her driver-bodyguard...

Nov 18, 2022

Full Review

Romey Norton

Ready Steady Cut

Women have obstacles put in their way from birth, and the passion and upset in this documentary that we see from not only Zarifa herself but her family is heartbreaking.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 17, 2022

Full Review

Zoë Rose Bryant

Next Best Picture

Not only is the time we spend with Ghafari simply a straightforward telling of history (and not the parts we’re most interested in), but there needs to be more of it

Rated: 4/10

Nov 16, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Filmed across two turbulent years, In Her Hands tells the story of Zarifa Ghafari, who at 26 became one of Afghanistan's first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. The film documents her fight for survival against the backdrop of her country's accelerated unraveling. As Western forces announce their retreat and the Taliban start their sweep back to power, Zarifa and women across the country face a new reality. Amid these tectonic changes, Zarifa must make the most difficult decision of her life.

Director: Marcel Mettelsiefen, Tamana Ayazi
Producer: Tamana Ayazi, Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Stephen Ellis, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Roma Khanna, George Loening, Marcel Mettelsiefen, Howard T. Owens, Isabel Vargas, Robert Sharenow, Ben Silverman, Siobhan Sinnerton, Johnny Webb
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: HiddenLight Productions, Propagate, Moondog Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Drug Use|Violent Content|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2022
Runtime: 1h 33m

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