Osama, The Movie
A must watch social study on Islamic Societies.
Review by Ahreeman X
October 6, 2005
A 12 Year old girl & her mother lose their jobs working in a hospital. After the rise of Taliban, women cannot work, nor can they browse outside the house without a guardian or a male family member. Little girl's father and uncle have been martyred and out of the picture, so there is no one to support the family consisting of the little girl, her mother and Grand Mother.
Out of desperation, the family cut her hair and disguise her as a boy, so she becomes Osama, to work and support her family (Reminds you of the Persian movie Baran). She ends up working in a local store. Taliban, mistaken her for a young boy, take her to religious studies "Maktab" to become a young Taliban!
Eventually they find out about her secret and she is to be judged by the judge and the Shari'a Law. An old Mullah asks the judge to forgive her sins and instead of killing her via stoning or shooting, allows her to become wedded to him! The judge accepts Mullahs recommendation and forgives Osama. Instead of execution, Osama (12 year old girl) becomes the 4th wife of the Old Mullah (Senior Citizen in his 70s).
Somewhere in the middle of the movie, before Osama was discovered as a girl, The Mullah, as an instructor, was teaching all the young boys including Osama, on how to Qosl (after sex, Islamic bathing/washing). At the end of the movie, after legally raping Osama (Jenabat), Mullah jumps in the Khazineh (Middle Eastern Tub) to Qosl!
I strongly recommend for "All" to see this movie. This movie can portray and inform you of psyche of the Muslim, Middle Eastern environment, and the True Nature of Islam and Muslim. After viewing this movie, you will get a much better understanding about the Value of women in Islam!
This movie happened in Afghanistan, but similar stories are presently happing all over Middle East, even in small villages of Iran!
Girls as young as 9 years old, with father's permission, can legally be wedded to men as old as 60 or 70 years old! Prophet Muhammad himself married a 6 year old Ayishah and supposedly awaited her 9th birthday before he had sex with her!
In today's Iran (The Most sophisticated Islamic nation), a 9 year old girl can be married to an adult male; however, she does not have the right to vote in elections, until she is 16 year old! Set aside that a 16 year old, by no means has the maturity and political knowledge to vote in an election! But then again what part of life in Islamic Republic of Iran is logical, that this will be the second coming of logic in Iran?! When shari'a laws and theocracy allows one to vote @ 16, then why not marry @ 9?!
Today's Afghanistan has changed, Taliban are gone to mountains and out of government. Women can once more work and they don't have to wear Burqah. But certain questions remain unanswered:
Since the fall of Taliban, how much is the Mentality of the society as a whole, has changed? Do you believe an enforced American/Western Change, has truly changed the mentality of the region? Can a 1400 year old Dogmatic Superstitious way of life, be changed by a couple of forced regime changes in Iraq and Afghanistan? What if tomorrow, Americans pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan? Would the American backed regimes be able to maintain the Status Q? Or would these Barbie Doll, Civilized and Democratic Regimes be swallowed by Theocratic and/or Dictatorial Middle Eastern thought patterns? Do people of region really comprehend the meaning of Democracy?
While ago, in a meeting, the tribal leaders of Iraq were telling Chalabi, they don't care about democracy, but they need a strong leader to lead Iraq!
The Whole region needs to do some serious soul searching thorough their old ways and today's modern ways. They must find their identity and seek for their true desires!
You can watch this movie on Sundance Channel, rent the DVD or purchase it.
For more Iranian/Foreign Movies on Sundance Channel, go to:
Sundance Channel
http://www.sundancechannel.com
Search for "Iran" (in this case Afghanistan or Osama)
and you will get the current month's list of screenings.
Every Month, Sundance Channel screens a number of award wining Iranian Movies.
This movie is the first Afghan made movie since the rise and fall of Taliban!
See you @ the movies
AX