Three Songs for Benazir is an Afghan documentary short film on Netflix. It is directed by Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei. The documentary film features Shaista and Benazir, a newly married couple from Afghanistan’s one of the displacement camps in Kabul. The duration of the short film is 22 minutes. It is available in the Pashto language and has English subtitles. The short has won many awards like Best Short Film Jury Prize at the 2021 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Award of Excellence at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival and many more.
The synopsis reads, “Newly married and living in a displacement camp, an Afghan man struggles to balance his dream of joining the national army with family responsibilities.”
Netflix Short Three Songs for Benazir Review Contains No Spoilers
Three Songs for Benazir is a documentary film shot at one of the refugee camps of Afghanistan. A young man named Shaista is newly married to Benazir. The short film starts with Shaista singing a song for his beloved wife. Benazir cannot stop blushing as her husband expresses what she means to her through a song. The couple is also expecting their first child.
In one scene, Shaista points at a blimp above and tells his wife that the Americans watch them with cameras. “We will either be bombed by the foreigners or killed by the Taliban,” says Shaista. He has lots of love and big dreams on his mind. Shaista wants to be the first one from his family to join the Afghanistan army.
Shaista visits the army base camp to recruit himself. He’s asked to fill out a form with permission from the elderly family member. The person/people will also be held responsible if he does something wrong. When Shaista informs his father and brother about joining the army, they disapprove. His brother says that poor people like them don’t belong to the army. His father says, “If you join, the Taliban will chop us into pieces.” Most advise him to look after the poppy harvest.
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The couple welcomes their first child and is happy. But Benazir still wants to join the army. But in a refugee camp that’s been watched constantly by the enemies, is it easy to live as per one’s wish? Will Benazir fulfil his dream?
Netflix’s Afghan Short Three Songs for Benazir has a very raw narration style. The scenes from Shaista’s house to when he visits the base camp have a calming effect. It’s quite the opposite of what is really happening in the lives of these refugees in reality. In the uncertainty, they find little time where the husband sings a sweet song for his wife.
Three Songs for Benazir Review: Final Thoughts
The 22-minute short film is thought-provoking and gives us a glimpse into a world we are aware of but rarely discuss. It bursts the bubble that every country or individual in the world has a sense of “freedom.” Even enlisting in the army makes family members fearful of being shot by others. If they don’t join the army, they know either the neighbouring countries or foreigners will attack. It’s a trapped life for thousands of people who live in such displacement camps.
The film is now streaming on Netflix.
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Am intrigued to discover a shot of the main character. the young man , in the film on the steps leading to the Shrine of the Bab , a Baha’i Holy Place in modern Israel, Haifa , in the film , dressed immaculately in Afghan costume- am a Baha’i myself and wondered why there was no explanation as to why and when he was there – we were so surprised , and delighted must add , to see him there . Imagine it might be for safety reasons for his dear family that there was no explanation given that the Taleban are now back in power in Afghanistan- – would anybody like to comment?