In The Secret Reading Club of Kabul, co-directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen, three courageous young Afghan women fight back against the Taliban’s oppression of women by meeting secretly to read and learn. We posed our Qs à la mode to Elina, and here’s what she shared!
If I had to describe my film using only three adjectives, they would be: Bold, humane, defiant.
I wanted to make this film because: The world must hear the voices of Afghan women.
The thing that surprised me most while making my film was: The protagonists’ courage and openness.
My favorite moment/scene/sequence in my film is: All footage shot by the protagonists — an act of resistance.
My most invaluable piece of doc-making equipment was/is: Determination.
My must-have snack to get me through hours in the editing room is: Coffee.
One piece of documentary-filmmaking advice I’d like to share with aspiring documentarians is: Don’t believe those who say something is impossible — think about how it might be possible.
Want to check out Elina’s film or just learn more about it?
Get the scoop, and your tickets, here!
