Kandahar Break is an independent British film written and directed by David Whitney and was released in 2009. Though I have seen many movies set in Afghanistan and Kabul and about the atrocities being done there by the lost people. This movie has a very simple plot and highlights more or less the same things that we have read and known for years now.
My inspiration to write it was to see this model whom I first saw at a silly fashion show organized by students from SZABIST and one of my friends was the organizer and we went there to support him. This girl seemed confident and resembled Parveen Bobby. I remember my sister and I said this girl seems bold and will go ahead. Later on I saw her on ramp. It was Tatmaeen. She had made progress quickly. I mean imagine all those Pakistani models and actresses who claim all the time they wouldn't work in an Indian movie or that they have too many offers and blah blah. And there Tatmaeen has already worked in an international project. And she did act pretty decent...I set my benchmark a bit low and that is Vaneeza's acting in Jinnah. So, yes Tatmaeen looked fine and acted well. She did quite a few kissing scenes also, so I am not too sure if she is still in Pakistan, has there been any fatwa passed against her or whatever the scenario is here.
The story is about this British engineer who had come to destroy land mines. This was pre the 9-11 era but Taliban rules were functional in Afghanistan. And this engineer fell for this girl Jameela (Tatmaeen) who was an interpreter and had lived in US for many years but had returned to her country afterwards as that's what her father had wanted ...to live in their own land. Unfortunately, because this engineer Richard and Jameela fell in love and were seen together intimately, the girl was taken to be stoned to death. The guy did interfere but the girl died and he was in trouble because now the Talibans were after him. So, the rest of the movie was about how he made his way out through Pakistan. Along the way, he also met some Balochi tribesmen who helped him because they considered Talibans to be the real enemies of peace. But sadly, as soon as he crossed the border he was shot dead. Later on in 2002, Nato took over and drove the Talibans out.
The story was quite simple and I am sure in reality even worse things happened in Afghanistan. I have read many stories about women trapped in such places and it is very sad to see how entire lives are ruined. The movie had some other Pakistani tv actors too who acted well.
