The Beauty Academy of Kabul” was shown at Elizabethtown College on Thursday, March 14, as part of the International Film Festival. The documentary featured a group of American hairstylists who travel to Afghanistan to open its first post-Taliban beauty academy.
Under the Taliban regime, Afghan women were imposed upon and told what was and was not acceptable for them. They were forced to fully clothe themselves and remain indoors — prohibited to enjoy liberties that many American women seem to take for granted.
The documentary takes place later, in a post-Taliban regime. American volunteers who are eager to teach the latest hair practices, such as cutting, coloring and perming, realize that, though the Afghan women are deserving and excited to learn, they still face many personal barriers. The women of Afghanistan are trying to move on and be happy despite what they have been through; however, they are scared to be free and are stuck in lifestyles of modest living and gender inequality.
The hushed whispers and near silent laughter heard throughout the people in the auditorium confirmed how culturally different life can be, as well as the impact of transformation.
The theme of transformation, according to Kristi Syrdahl, director of the Office of International Student Services, is the reason she and Louise Hyder-Darlington, the access services librarian, chose to present “The Beauty Academy of Kabul” as part of the International Film Festival.
“Although several smaller festivals have been held in years past, this is the first year that the Office of International Student Services, in conjunction with the High Library, has really made a concerted effort to choose films that have a theme and also tie in with things really happening in the world. Having been inspired by transformation, we selected ‘The Beauty Academy of Kabul’ because it is not every day that you would see a film from Afghanistan. They are not made often, and the fact this actually was a documentary is noteworthy,” Syrdahl said.
Syrdahl believes Etown students can learn from what they see within the film. “I think there is a lot of benefit in expanding horizons and understanding the world in a larger way,” she stated. “If it is through a lecture series or a film series, there is always benefit in that; it is also a fun way to spend an hour and a half. Learning really happens everywhere and in every single moment. If one can walk away from an experience saying, ‘I didn’t know that,’ then he or she has learned something. I think sometimes people need to step out of their elements and explore the unknown. Specifically for ‘The Beauty Academy of Kabul,’ students who might not have known about life under the Taliban will see how much we take our lives for granted, especially as females. Overall, I think it will be eye opening that this happened not that long ago. This documentary took place in 2003, about ten years ago, and it’s still something we may not remember or know about.”
The timing of when to show the documentary was also something considered in choosing “The Beauty Academy of Kabul.” “I recall when were doing the planning that March is also Women’s History Month. I think we tried to find something that worked with Women’s History Month to stand out in some way,” Syrdahl said.
The next event for the International Film Festival will take place on Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m. in Gibble Auditorium. It will feature a presentation from Joseph Sebarenzi, a former Speaker of Parliament in Rwanda and survivor of the genocide in 1994. He will speak of his experience in Rwanda, peace and conflict transformation, reconciliation and his book, “God Sleeps in Rwanda.”
