The Beauty Academy of Kabul
Directed by: Liz Mermin
[New York, NY] : Docurama : Distributed by New Video, c2006.
Every culture has a unique perspective on what is beautiful. The Beauty Academy of Kabul tells the story of six teachers, including three Afghan women returning after many years, who start a beauty academy for local women in Kabul. Beauty salons are seen as a way for Afghan women to regain social and economic freedom in post-Taliban Afghanistan, and beauty is recognized as a symbol of returning freedom, self-esteem, and hope for the future. The film includes brief historical clips of the ongoing turbulence in Afghanistan and touches on a number of interconnected issues, such as gender inequalities, arranged marriages, rigid social conventions, and the continual threat of violence. Mermin skillfully balances the good intentions of the academy with the harsh realities of the life of females in Afghanistan. She also successfully incorporates clashes between the American instructors, who can be overly brash and somewhat insensitive to the trauma these women have endured, and the Afghan natives, who don't necessarily believe that the empowerment of women to control their own lives can ever be accomplished. Overall, the film is a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity as Afghan women embrace the chance to gain new skills and further education.
Review from Library Journal