No Good Men to open Berlinale

Drama is third feature from Shahrbanoo Sadat

by Amber Wilkinson

Anwar Hashimi, Shahrbanoo Sadat in No Good Men by Shahrbanoo Sadat
Anwar Hashimi, Shahrbanoo Sadat in No Good Men by Shahrbanoo Sadat Photo: © Virginie Surdej
The 76th edition of the Berlin Film Festival will open with the world premiere of No Good Men on February 12.

The drama is the third feature film by award-winning Afghan director Shahrbanoo Sadat, who previously made Wolf And Sheep (2016) and The Orphanage (2019). The film is the third of five planned films based on the autobiographical writings of author and actor Anwar Hashimi, who stars in the film alongside Sadat.

Naru (Sadat), the only camerawoman at Kabul TV, is convinced that there are no good men in Afghanistan. But when the reporter Qodrat takes her on assignment just before the Taliban’s return, sparks fly – and she begins to question this belief.

Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle said: “Shahrbanoo Sadat is one of the most exciting voices in world cinema and No Good Men really delivers on the promise of her first two features. Sadat continues her vital work spotlighting Afghan women’s lives, here bringing romance and touches of humour to a rousingly political story. That it is based on real events, and the director risked so much to get this film made makes No Good Men even more meaningful as our Opening Gala of the 76th Berlinale“.

Sadat added: “Growing up in Afghanistan’s deeply patriarchal society, I believed there were no good men – until I found out another reality exists, and I hope this film offers young women hope and young men an example.”

No Good Men is an international co-production between Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan. It will be released in Germany on August 27.

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