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| Two of the girls sparring. Courtesy of the NFB / Photo: Rafaela Persson |
Coming to Canadian Film Institute (CFI) next week is a
special screening of The Boxing Girls of
Kabul with director Ariel Nasr in attendance for a Q&A. The Boxing Girls of Kabul, produced by
the National Film Board of Canada, is a powerful documentary about a trio of
young Afghan women who pursue their passion for the sport in hopes of becoming world-class
boxers. The girls’ success is especially noteworthy, as cultural mores discourage
them from training for a sport that many in their country deem too aggressive
for women. I caught The Boxing Girls of
Kabul when it had its world premiere at Hot Docs last May and gave the film
four stars, calling it a “well-done observation of how change begins at the
personal level.” Following its success at Hot Docs and other festivals, The Boxing Girl of Kabul received a
nomination for Best Short Film – Documentary from the Canadian Screen Awards.
Nasr was also nominated for an Oscar this year for producing the Live Action
Short Buzkashi Boys. Please join the CFI and welcome Nasr when The Boxing Girls of Kabul screens Wednesday, January 30th, at 7:00PM.
Details from the CFI and trailer after the jump:
The Canadian Film Institute (CFI), is pleased to present a special screening of The Boxing Girls of Kabul on Wednesday, January 30th, at 7:00PM.
Directed by independent Afghan-Canadian filmmaker, Ariel Nasr, this powerful documentary follows three young Afghan women, who risk everything in their pursuit to become world-class boxers, despite training without even the most basic facilities.
Led by their trainer, an ex-boxer who once dreamed of competing in the Olympics, the film follows his proteges as they travel to boxing competitions in Vietnam and Kazakhstan. The film also reveals the life-threatening risks these athletes and their families face by participating in a sport that many in their country believe is inappropriate for women.
A National Film Board production, The Boxing Girls of Kabul was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award while Nasr, the film’s director who makes his home in Montreal, was nominated for an Oscar in the Short Film - Live Action category for his work as a producer on the film Buzkashi Boys.
Nasr will be in attendance to introduce The Boxing Girls of Kabul and, following the screening, will participate in a discussion with CFI executive director Tom McSorley, as well as a question and answer session with the audience.
This special screening will take place at the Auditorium at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa. Tickets are $12 for the general public and $8 for CFI members, seniors, and students and can be purchased on-site with the box office opening half an hour before the start of the film. Showtime is 7pm.
The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) was incorporated in 1935 as a federally-chartered, non-governmental, non-profit cultural organization. It is the oldest film institution in Canada and the second oldest film institute in the world. More information can be found online at www.cfi-icf.ca.
