Playing With Fire: Women Actors of Afghanistan Directed by Anneta Papathanassiou. 2014. 58 minutes. Afghanistan. In Afghan (Dari) with English subtitles.
Introduction and post-screening discussion by Katayoun H. Salmasi (critic / playwright / director), former vice president of the Iran Theatre Critics Association, and advisor Iranian Cultural Alliance at UofI.
Banned under Taliban rule (1994-2001), Afghan theater is experiencing a comeback with many women at the forefront. Filmmaker Anneta Papathanassiou exposes pervasive erosions of Afghan women’s rights. Her timely, eye-opening documentary perfectly captures art’s transformative power and the dangers these courageous women face to do the work they love.