Kandahar

2001 1h 25m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 92

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After an Afghanistan-born woman who lives in Canada receives a letter from her suicidal sister, she takes a perilous journey through Afghanistan to try to find her.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Nelofer Pazira
Nafas
Ike Ogut
Naghadar
Hassan Tantai
Tabib Sahid
Sadou Teymouri
Khak
Hoyatala Hakimi
Hayat
Noam Morgensztern
Three children (voice)
Monica Hankievich
Zahra Shafahi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Languages: Pushto, Persian, Polish, English
Countries: Iran, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Pushto, Persian, Polish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Iran, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, shot by Hossein Amiri. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mastane Mohajer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nelofer Pazira and Ike Ogut and Hassan Tantai carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mohsen Makhmalbaf directs. Hossein Amiri behind the camera. Mastane Mohajer cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Iran, France. Dialogue in Pushto, Persian, Polish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
225 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Pushto, Persian, Polish, English.
4International production across 2 countries: Iran, France.
5Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
6Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, shot by Hossein Amiri. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Editor Mastane Mohajer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Nelofer Pazira and Ike Ogut and Hassan Tantai carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0283431 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 92 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Classified under 14 themes, including "middle east", "refugee", "afghanistan", "islam".
12Released under 10 different titles around the world.