If you believe that bringing the questionable
virtues of “American Idol” to Afghanistan
would do that beleaguered nation no favors, the
remarkable documentary “Afghan Star” will
change your mind in an instant. Read more 
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Afghans unite to cheer their brave new stars as The X-Factor comes to Kabul. A TV talent show that challenges gender, tribal and religious boundaries is transfixing the nation's people - and antagonising religious scholars, reports Vanessa Thorpe. Read more
Entertaining "Afghan Star" looks at the titular "American Idol"-like TV show, hugely popular yet also a magnet for criticism -- including death threats -- from those who think its Western-style pop frivolity an affront to Islamic law.
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The winner of the directing prize and the audience award at Sundance's world documentary section Havana Marking's debut feature Afghan Star is an informed and entertaining dispatch about the collision of culture, ideology and history that ultimately suggests a darker, more rueful Afghani Slumdog Millionaire.
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The sense of hope and danger is more palpable here than in any other movie I've seen at Sundance, and the film's hard-won good vibes had the audience cheering. Wonderful movie. Read more
Films like Afghan Star are what makes the Sundance Film Festival so vital.
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It's also a compelling lesson in freedom and about people hungry to embrace their own popular culture amid government and religious restrictions.
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Little-hyped films that could steal the Sundance spotlight
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What Afghan Star is achieving in terms of change is more than an NGO [non-government organization] could do in a year.
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Details of Afghan Star the documentary including synopsis, producers, credits, contacts and photographs..
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It was the first time an Afghan film had made it to Sundance, let alone won both the World Cinema Documentary Audience and Directors award. The people of Afghanistan were over the moon.
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Each year, one or two Sundance movies really stand out in my mind as exceptional and Afghan Star may just be one of those films.
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What more intriguing inroad into a region usually represented in our news media by death and violence?
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Faith Salie interviews AFGHAN STAR director Havana Marking and host of ‘Pop Idol’ in Afghanistan Daoud Seddiqi.
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