In a follow up to the award-winning documentary Afghan Star, which followed four finalists to Afghanistan’s answer to American Idol, Director Havana Marking returns with Silencing the Song: An Afghan Fallen Star, airing tonight on HBO2 at 8pm.
Ms. Marking follows up with one of the female finalists in her film, Setara Hussainzada. In her final singing performance moments on the TV show Afghan Star, after Setara found out she didn’t garner enough votes to continue, she danced on the stage with her scarf slipping off her head. Controversy ensued, resulting in many people, including clergy from her province making statements condemning her actions.
The film starts off with Setara’s attempts at becoming a singer and leaving Afghanistan to pursue a music career. However, after finding out that she’s pregnant, she returns back to Kabul to be with her husband. Ms. Marking films Setara as she comes to the grips with the reality that she may not sing for a while as she prepares for the life of a mother while still dealing with the consequences of her actions on stage as shown in Afghan Star.
This follow up documentary has a different feel from Afghan Star but is no less powerful.
Afghan Star was more hopeful – the country was embracing the arts and people finally got a say, even if it was a for a music show and the vote they gave was with a text. It depicted unity as people were supporting finalists who were not necessarily from their region.
Silencing the Song strikes a different chord. Although this documentary is more tragic than its predecessor, the viewer is given the rare opportunity to find out what happened to the person who didn’t win, the one who said they would still make a name for themselves despite the loss. That fact in and of itself makes this documentary significant. I highly recommend watching this documentary if you can.
Silencing the Song: An Afghan Fallen Star airs tonight on HBO2 at 8pm. It is preceded by an airing of Afghan Star, which should be viewed as well as it is an excellent documentary. The DVD for Afghan Star goes on sale on March 30.
