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In Her Hands

Play trailer Poster for In Her Hands PG-13 Released Nov 11, 2022 1h 33m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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58% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 36% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
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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In Her Hands

Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (9) audience reviews
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 Read all reviews
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In Her Hands

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Movie Info

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
Juan Camilo Cruz, Jonathan Schaerf
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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