Princess

Comedy of tragedies 2!

In the other case, this 18 year old girl has had sex with a 17 year old boy and been examined by the doctor and confirmed to be a virgin but the report says something about anal sex.

So they ask the girl (who by the way is very nice, very pretty and very smart) on camera, so what did the report say?

- The report is "unclear"!

So they interview her defense Lawyer and ask him:

- Well we think the report is "unclear" because anything can cause the anal report to come unclear like if there is diarrhea and they have to resort to extreme measures.

- So did she have diarrhea?

- Well the report did not define it properly, it is "unclear".  They did not define the definition of anal sex and it depends on what your definition of the word is IS!

So then they go before a Judge and cameras are not allowed and they give her 3 years.  When the girl comes out of courtroom it doesn't seem like she is too worried.

They ask her what did the Judge say?  And then they interview the Judge and the Judge says she admitted to having the anal sex and she didn't deny it in front of cameras!  She still insists it's "unclear"!

And the final act of the documentary which I thought was the best line and a fitting conclusion, she said if the boy (who is in jail for the same reason she is) marries her the sentence will be reduced.  They tell her but he didn't agree to marry you and she smiles and says screw him, there are plenty of suitors!

And truly there are plenty of suitors for her and it is absurd that they put her through all this nonsense! 

Everything is sacred

Comedy of tragedies!

You know it just darned on me that while this is tragic, some of the conversations and dialogues are actually very funny, absurd and understandable but funny!

For example, this couple are both in jail for having sex.  So they go to the court because the girl asked the guy to marry her and he said no, so she took him to court to force him to marry her!

Now while in jail the guy talks to the Warden while cameras are on and admit he had sex with her.  So then the couple appear before the Judge and here's the dialogue:

- Your honor we'd like to get married.

- Very well, what do you have to say about yourself and being here in jail?

- Your honor she seduced me and came to my room at night and forced herself on me.

- Your honor he sexually assaulted me and sneaked into MY room and sexually assaulted me.

- And now you'd like to get married?

- Yes your honor.  Yes me too.

- So what do you agree on, have you agreed on the dowry?

- Yes your honor I want $30,000.

- Does the groom agree?

- No your honor.  I don't want to pay anything, don't have any money to pay.  No jobs no money no prospect.

- Very well, by the powers invested in me by these stupid powers to be, I now pronounce you husband and wife! 

Everything is sacred

Grim realities...

Simultaneously forein and familiar to me as an Iranian in diaspora.... Having watched only 2/5, I am also so taken by the compassion and courage of this documentary's producers.

Very interesting. Thank you Princess jaan. I may revisit this thread when I'm done watching and processing all the segments.

Reality Bites Jan

All you say is also true of Americans:

• Self serving philosophy: "Greed is good" is the motto of Wall Street.
• Intolerance of others: Just watch the American congress.
• Blaming others: Immigrants took our jobs; never my fault.

Therefore if the above were the problem why is America doing better? I agree that Iran does have problems but your points apply as well to USA.

VPK jaan

We can blame the oil, the interfering foreign governments etc till the cows come home, but Iran's biggest Iran is the mentality of the average Iranian, either in their self-serving nature or always blaming Iran's problems on outsiders or their intolerance towards their fellow citizens with different beliefs, view points etc.

We are the authors of our own demise (for the most part anyway). 

Dear Afshin

I disagree totally. If Iran did not have oil there would have not been oil nationalization. That means no CIA coup and Mossadegh would have remained PM. Very possibly Iran would be a democracy now. 

Oil was and is a curse on Iran. It never did us any good and never will. A crutch to keep us from getting on our feet. Did Koroush have oil? Did the Sassanids or even Karim Khan have oil: No!

Just a point

I know I am going off the main topic but just to make my point. 

Afghans are Iranians. By history; culture and language. Specially Northern Afghans the "Tajiks" are Iranian. The Hazara are ethnically part Mongol but have accepted Iranian values. Therefore they are Iranians.

The only group that are not are the Southern Afghans who are the basis of Taliban. In my opinion Northern Afghanistan should be integrated into Iran. 

Ahh yes an Afghan child grown up in Iran.

Princess jaan it makes sense.  So basically the story of this woman is like the story of The Stoning of Soraya M.  How sad.  At least she got only few months and not years or worse.  At first I thought she was an interpreter for the filmmaker!  I had confused her being "widowed" instead of "divorced" because at one point they said the Judge was asking her if she is a good woman why is she divorced, which didn't make sense.  Nothing made sense in their justice system!

Actually I was thinking despite the fact that these charges and sentences are absurd at least they're "lenient" and not so bad like it was during Taliban.  As you say some are feisty but in Taliban they'd be put to death just for talking which is one of the reasons the families are this way now.  So many years of abuse in the society.

I can understand life being expensive in Afghanistan but the families in this movie had some mud houses and nothing else!  They could negotiate all they want but as we say in Farsi in kafe dast har chi mikhay moo bekan! 

Everything is sacred

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Esfand jaan.

I agree with you. I believe even if Afghansitan manages to have a credible government and somehow manages to get the security situation under control tomorrow, it will take at least 60 years (two generations) for us to start start seeing real changes taking place in Afghanistan. A thorough mentality change is absolutely necessary for any progress in Afghanistan.

As for the "Iranian" woman, she is not Iranian, she is an Afghan who was probably raised mostly in Iran. Just an interesting side note: you can always tell if an Afghan girl has spent some time in Iran. They tend to be much more feisty and assertive then the average Afghan woman.

Her story is that she is a widow, who has a day job but lives with her family. Aparently her family is very abusive towards her, so one day instead of going back home from work, she decieds to go to friend's house (the older woman who is also spending time with her in prison). She hides there for a few days while her family searches for her. Finally she is found at the old woman's house. The old woman has a grown up son. So the parents of the girl report the woman and the girl to the authorities, accusing the older woman of either pimping or trying to sell the girl. The authorities also arrest the son on suspicion of adultry (he is already married).

You might have to go back and watch the film again to get the full story, but I hope this helps. 

And finally a word about "negotiating thousands of dollars" you'd be surprised to find how expensive life in Kabul is!!  

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You are most welcome, Darius jaan! 

Afshin

This is what Iran will look like in the future when oil runs out? This has nothing to do with Oil, this is society.

Tough life!

This was very interesting.  Thanks for posting it.  One or two generations have to pass for these stupid laws to be taken off the books.  Frank Sinatra was put in jail for adultry back in the days.

The women in this film can become actresses, hope they become one and end up wih better lives.  They sure have a good outlook and attitude towards life.

Funny they didn't have aah to mix with naleh and they're "negotiating" thousands of dollars!

I wish we could learn more about the Iranian woman, like how she ended up there and what was her story.  I didn't quite understand what was she charged with or her crime or how she ended up being divorced and then others trying to make her become 2nd wife to some one else. 

Everything is sacred

Very interesting Princess Jaan

Thanks for posting.

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My pleasure, Ari.

I am glad you all enjoyed it. 

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شراب سرخ عزیز، خوشحالم که مورد استفادتان قرار گرفت. اگر آمدید کابل حتما تماس بگیرید، شاید بالاخره آنجا سعادت دیدارتان را داشته باشیم. روز خوشی‌ را براتان آرزو می‌کنم.

Definitely worth the time to watch

Same people, same feelings.  Different planet? Thanks Princess.

Enjoyed Watching These Clips

These so called criminals are 100 times more normal than their captors.

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پرنسس جانِ عزیز،دستت درد نکند خانم جان که این فیلم را گذاشتی‌.به موردِ استفاده این حقیر قرار گرفت.

به احتمالِ قوی در بهارِ سالِ آینده (گر یزدان خواهد ) سفری خواهیم داشت به افغانستان،البته این سفر... بخشی از یک پروژه قدیمی‌ است که به مدت بیش از ۱۲ سال متوقف گشته و بیش از چندین بار سفر تعویق افتاده است و حال به نظر می‌‌آید که قسمت به سفر است و یا حق !

از دیدارِ مجدد با شما سخت مشعوف گشته و این فرخنده بخت را به فالِ نیک‌ گیریم.

با سپاس ...