Wajma: An Afghan Love Story (2013) | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

Audience Reviews

r 9 Very good!'Wajma', a.k.a. 'An Afghan Love Story', is a well done flick. Barmak Akram & Co. do a great job at making everything feel real, particularly one scene with Wajma Bahar and Haji Gul Aser - both of whom impress with their performances, especially the former.Fully merits a viewing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Sad, stark commentary on the clash of the 21st century on a culture that's still mired in the medieval past. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Sad that women (and men) live like this over there. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The tension between ancient and modern aspects of life in Afghanistan creates substantial drama (and for Western viewers, surprise) in this film. The acting is strong and honest. Wajma Bahar in particular is captivating and ever-changing: innocent, wise, childish, mature, dutiful, independent, her face and posture telling a story at every turn. Her character's love of family, and connections with friends, are a story in themselves (especially for Westerners, where such things are often more attenuated). The fierce love these characters feel allows them to roll with, and sometimes transcend, the dangers the cultural landscape holds for everyone in Afghanistan. The land is a character, too. The predictably unpredictable weather, scenes of treks through the streets of Kabul, car journeys, long shots of Kabul in its mountainous setting, and distant views filmed from a plane, as well as the scenes in the south where Wajma's father, played by Haji Gul Aser, works - all these tell a lot about why Afghanistan is so beloved by its people, why they fight to hold on to control of their country, how they can survive despite the difficulties of everyday life. A very powerful film. Recommended for anyone who wants to understand Afghanistan and its people. So much to learn from this film. It will stay with me for a long time. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member A charming little love story which segues into a tale about the aloneness of out of wedlock pregnancy in Afghanistan. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member ★★★1/2 (out of four)Easily one of the best foreign language films I saw in 2013. It is truly an eye opening experience about the way people live and are expected to live in other parts of the world.Wajma is a young Afghani girl who becomes seduced by a handsome waiter. She becomes pregnant which enrages her family, and especially her bully father. In order to regain his place in society, her father sets out to punish her by all means possible for the shame she has brought on his family.It is disturbing and fascinating all at once. It is interesting how in her fathers eyes she is the ultimate in sin, yet he doesn't show the same hatred to the young waiter since he is a man and society dictates that its the woman who must remain virtuous.Remarkably acted. It's images haunted me for quite some time afterwords. It isn't easy to watch what this young woman goes through, but it is strongly worthwhile.[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/Zeppo1/Wajma_zps3de79c94.jpg[/IMG] Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Wajma: An Afghan Love Story

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