In the midst of snow-covered Kabul, a young student begins a passionate but secret relationship with a charming waiter. Their budding love is constantly overshadowed by social norms and family expectations. When she becomes pregnant unintentionally, her lover refuses to take responsibility, and she is confronted with the harsh reality of patriarchal structures. Rumors spread quickly, and soon her father finds out. Torn between his love for his daughter and social pressure to uphold the family honor, he chooses violence. Wajma is left alone, without protection or prospects, in a society where honor is placed above humanity. WAJMA by Barmak Akram is a powerful drama about female autonomy in a patriarchal society. The film not only shows the brutality of family and cultural constraints, but also the inner conflict of a father torn between tradition and compassion. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Screenwriting Award in the World Cinema Dramatic section. It was also submitted as Afghanistan's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar and has been shown at other international festivals such as Busan and Stockholm.
Drama
1h 20min
16
FA
ES
SV
IT
PT
EN
DE
PL
After a passionate romance, an Afghan student must face patriarchal power structures alone.
In the midst of snow-covered Kabul, a young student begins a passionate but secret relationship with a charming waiter. Their budding love is constantly overshadowed by social norms and family expectations. When she becomes pregnant unintentionally, her lover refuses to take responsibility, and she is confronted with the harsh reality of patriarchal structures.
Rumors spread quickly, and soon her father finds out. Torn between his love for his daughter and social pressure to uphold the family honor, he chooses violence. Wajma is left alone, without protection or prospects, in a society where honor is placed above humanity.
WAJMA by Barmak Akram is a powerful drama about female autonomy in a patriarchal society. The film not only shows the brutality of family and cultural constraints, but also the inner conflict of a father torn between tradition and compassion.
The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Screenwriting Award in the World Cinema Dramatic section. It was also submitted as Afghanistan's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar and has been shown at other international festivals such as Busan and Stockholm.