Osama

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Leaburn O A sensational film, the horror’s of which feel all too real. I would recommend this to anyone with the stomach to see the depravity to which humans can stoop. Having read a lot about Afghanistan this really shouldn’t surprise me but the film really brings home the brutal reality of life for all Afghans living under these prehistoric values. Watched on YouTube. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review georgan g Knew most of the content but learned more. The non-professional actors were amazing. In all, it feels like *I* was going through this horror. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Under strict Taliban rule in Afghanistan, a young girl is disguised as a boy in order to enter society and accept employment to help support her mother and grandmother. It's a look into a society and culture unimaginable for anyone who hasn't lived it, a world of overt misogyny, archaic rule of law and horrific violence. Harrowing from start to finish based simply on the subject matter, the imagery captured by the excellent cinematography is what stands out – a young girl trapped at the top of a tree by boys who have figured out her identity, a child hobbling down a deserted hospital walkway. While the film may have benefited by more in-depth character development, it remains a powerful indictment of a society where fanatical faith outweighs reason and compassion. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review William L "The women are having a demonstration! Run away!" - Current frontrunner for this year's most unintentionally funny line in a drama, without context. What Wadjda would later be to an emerging Saudi film industry, Osama was to shifts in the culture of Afghanistan - the first film to be shot entirely in-country in years. However, where Saudi Arabia was seeking to establish itself in international cinema, Siddiq Barmak was trying to reclaim a tradition that had been suppressed under the Taliban, and it shows in his filmmaking here: Osama is a harsh criticism of the authoritarian practices of militant Islam, treating its hardline doctrine as inhumane and cruel. As a film itself, Osama is capable if a bit simple, but that can be forgiven when the themes explored are relevant and include valid criticism. The most compelling aspect of the film is not so much culture shock as it is 'era shock'; it's easy to mentally file away the fact that even today governments exist that vehemently defend practices that many would consider extremely antiquated at best, but Osama forces you to confront the reality that many of the rights and morals that we might consider innate are not necessarily shared by others. Props for ending on such a solemn note, instead of opting for some sort of 'hopeful inner rebellion' to highlight the strength of Golbahari's Osama; the point is that the Taliban enforces backwards religious tenants at the expense of basic human rights, and that can't be whitewashed. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/21 Full Review Audience Member Whoa, this was heartbreaking. Showing the plight of three generations of women in Afghanistan living under Taliban rule. Some of the scenes are cinematically beautiful, like the opening one where hundreds of women are protesting (the right to work) dressed in blue against the bleak desert landscape. Ultimately this is just depressing as we follow a 12 yr old girl posing as a boy in order to be able to leave her house without a legal (male) companion to support her mother and grandmother who've both been widowed; cutting her hair changing clothes and working in a tea shop. She is terrified. Before long the Taliban start recruiting young boys by force to their Koran schools and the other students begin to suspect she is a girl. The actress that plays Golbahari/Osama, her face shows such fear and despair. Oh damn the ending....horrific, haunting and unforgettable. 6/6/14 Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Why does this movie have 97%? It is not that good. Seriously. Tries way too hard to capture "emotion". Yes, its a sad storyline and whatnot but cinematically poorly executed. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Osama

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