Afghanistan is an impoverished country, one of the world's poorest and least developed. Two-thirds of the population lives on less than 2 US dollars a day. The economy has suffered greatly from the recent political and military unrest since the 1979 Soviet invasion and subsequent conflicts, while severe drought added to the nation's difficulties in 1998-2001. Afghanistan is a land-locked and mountainous country in central Asia, with plains in the north and southwest.
Large parts of the country are dry, and fresh water supplies are limited. Employment is scarce in Afghanistan, and many people have to beg to survive. Unlike Australia, the government is unstable in Afghanistan, and therefore there is no social security system and no medical assistance. There is no infrastructure, and therefore, no basic needs like running water or electricity.
Land Mines: A Love Story, is a documentary about Habiba and Shah, who both lost their legs due to land mines. It is a very sad and eye opening documentary, looking at the people in Afghanistan going through their every day lives and suffering. It is very graphic, with diagrams of land mines, and video footages of the war. Religion and superstition plays an important role in Afghanistan society. Women have to dress in traditional Muslim clothing, including the head cover, and robes. They stay up all night during Ramadan praying hoping their wishes will be fulfilled.
As a result of lack of hospitals and medical centers in Afghanistan, the people go to the village healer to get medical assistance. For example, Habiba went to a midwife for a pregnancy "check up" instead of a proper doctor. During the filming of this documentary, the filmmaker would have encountered many difficulties. First, there is a language barrier, as Habiba and Shah speaks in the Afghanistan native language. Theres barely any electricity in Afghanistan, therefore it would be hard to film the documentary, using video cameras, lighting and speakers.
This documentary is different from other normal documentaries because it has no narration. This is very effective as the audience get to actually listen to Habiba and Shah, they get the first hand experience. This documentary showed the audience the effects of the war, the victims, and their suffering.
Disability is an important issue in this film. Many people are disabled in Afghanistan as a result of the war. It is very hard for them to work because of their disability, and the Afghanistan government don't do much to help them. Unlike Australia, there are no facilities for the disabled, and any transport or infrastructure to help. Afghanistan is poverty stricken, and the disabled receive very little medical attention. The disabled are also outcasts, and looked down by the society.
Shah and Habiba are both disabled. They both lost their legs to land mines. Habiba still hopes to have her leg back, but Shah has already accepted his disability. They both try to live their lives s normal as possible with their injury, but what happened cannot be erased. They face a lot of difficulties as their both are also uneducated, and have no skills. Shah is a cobbler, but Habiba doesn't have any skills. They already have three children, and Habiba is pregnant again. They are in poverty, and live an uncomfortable life. It is also extremely difficult for them to get a pension from the government. Shah tried to apply a pension for Habiba. It took a long time to process, and in the end, the pension Habiba got was only $1.50, which is not enough.
Work options for women in Afghanistan are minimal, and it is harder for Habiba to work, because she of her disability. The needy receive help from charity organizations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations. They provide some food, loans, but it is still not enough. Women, the disabled and orphans should be given top priority for assistance; women need help because they are not as strong as men, orphans need help as they have no where else to go, and the disabled need assistance because they cannot do it themselves.
Land Mines: A Love Story is an eye opener. I never thought that war victims suffer that much. It is very touching, and sad. Looking at Habiba and Shah suffering just makes our hearts break. Nevertheless this documentary is a masterpiece, and it won many awards. This documentary is certainly worth watching.
