NEW YORK -- This debut feature, the first-ever Afghan entry to the Academy Awards, has a history as troubled as the country that inspired it. A first-time effort from writer-director Jawed Wassel, "FireDancer" was shot primarily in pre-Sept. 11 New York. While it was in postproduction, Wassel was murdered by Nathan Powell, one of the film's producers, his dismembered body found in Powell's van. The film was eventually completed by Vida Zaher-Khadem, whose brother plays the leading male role, and the results were premiered at an outdoor stadium in Kabul, becoming the first film to be shown in that country after the fall of the Taliban regime.
Unfortunately, the back story behind "FireDancer" is ultimately more interesting than the finished product, a thematically ambitious but rough-hewn combination of love story and examination of cultural dislocation. The two main characters are Harris (Baktash Zaher-Khadem), a successful conceptual artist who came to America as a child after his parents were murdered by the Russians, and Laila (Mariam Weiss), an aspiring fashion designer living in Queens with a father and two brothers who disdain her attempts at careerism.
Harris is looking to rediscover his roots, literally haunted by the past in the form of childhood memories and ghostly figures in traditional clothing. Laila is seeking assimilation, desperately resisting her old-world relatives' attempts to force her into an arranged marriage to an Afghan with shady business dealings.
Crudely shot and lacking narrative cohesion, the film's sincere attempts to explore meaningful issues of cultural identity are undercut by its amateurish execution. While there are some resonant moments, the characterizations remain one-dimensional, and in the hands of the inexperienced lead performers, the central love story never catches dramatic fire.
Unfortunately, the back story behind "FireDancer" is ultimately more interesting than the finished product, a thematically ambitious but rough-hewn combination of love story and examination of cultural dislocation. The two main characters are Harris (Baktash Zaher-Khadem), a successful conceptual artist who came to America as a child after his parents were murdered by the Russians, and Laila (Mariam Weiss), an aspiring fashion designer living in Queens with a father and two brothers who disdain her attempts at careerism.
Harris is looking to rediscover his roots, literally haunted by the past in the form of childhood memories and ghostly figures in traditional clothing. Laila is seeking assimilation, desperately resisting her old-world relatives' attempts to force her into an arranged marriage to an Afghan with shady business dealings.
Crudely shot and lacking narrative cohesion, the film's sincere attempts to explore meaningful issues of cultural identity are undercut by its amateurish execution. While there are some resonant moments, the characterizations remain one-dimensional, and in the hands of the inexperienced lead performers, the central love story never catches dramatic fire.
NEW YORK -- This debut feature, the first-ever Afghan entry to the Academy Awards, has a history as troubled as the country that inspired it. A first-time effort from writer-director Jawed Wassel, "FireDancer" was shot primarily in pre-Sept. 11 New York. While it was in postproduction, Wassel was murdered by Nathan Powell, one of the film's producers, his dismembered body found in Powell's van. The film was eventually completed by Vida Zaher-Khadem, whose brother plays the leading male role, and the results were premiered at an outdoor stadium in Kabul, becoming the first film to be shown in that country after the fall of the Taliban regime.
Unfortunately, the back story behind "FireDancer" is ultimately more interesting than the finished product, a thematically ambitious but rough-hewn combination of love story and examination of cultural dislocation. The two main characters are Harris (Baktash Zaher-Khadem), a successful conceptual artist who came to America as a child after his parents were murdered by the Russians, and Laila (Mariam Weiss), an aspiring fashion designer living in Queens with a father and two brothers who disdain her attempts at careerism.
Harris is looking to rediscover his roots, literally haunted by the past in the form of childhood memories and ghostly figures in traditional clothing. Laila is seeking assimilation, desperately resisting her old-world relatives' attempts to force her into an arranged marriage to an Afghan with shady business dealings.
Crudely shot and lacking narrative cohesion, the film's sincere attempts to explore meaningful issues of cultural identity are undercut by its amateurish execution. While there are some resonant moments, the characterizations remain one-dimensional, and in the hands of the inexperienced lead performers, the central love story never catches dramatic fire.
Unfortunately, the back story behind "FireDancer" is ultimately more interesting than the finished product, a thematically ambitious but rough-hewn combination of love story and examination of cultural dislocation. The two main characters are Harris (Baktash Zaher-Khadem), a successful conceptual artist who came to America as a child after his parents were murdered by the Russians, and Laila (Mariam Weiss), an aspiring fashion designer living in Queens with a father and two brothers who disdain her attempts at careerism.
Harris is looking to rediscover his roots, literally haunted by the past in the form of childhood memories and ghostly figures in traditional clothing. Laila is seeking assimilation, desperately resisting her old-world relatives' attempts to force her into an arranged marriage to an Afghan with shady business dealings.
Crudely shot and lacking narrative cohesion, the film's sincere attempts to explore meaningful issues of cultural identity are undercut by its amateurish execution. While there are some resonant moments, the characterizations remain one-dimensional, and in the hands of the inexperienced lead performers, the central love story never catches dramatic fire.
- 6/17/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.