My Sunny Maad

An Afghan bride isn't allowed to smile.

Otherwise, she'd look too eager for her wedding night.

It seemed strange to me.

Like many other customs I was just hearing about.

Shortly before as an Economics student in Prague

I'd felt I didn't belong anywhere.

My mother had a new husband and wasn't terribly interested in me.

I didn't know my father.

That might be why I wanted a forever relationship.

But Czech boys were awful.

Selfish, indecisive idiots.

Then, Nazir showed up.

I knew right away he was the One.

Everyone warned me.

You don't know what you're getting yourself into.

He'll throw a burka on you and lock you up to make babies.

But that's what I was looking forward to. A large family with children.

Nothing was keeping me in Prague, so two months later we left for Kabul.

We got married three days later.

I went from being Helena to Herra.

I had lost my virginity a long time ago, which Nazir hadn't expected.

And I hadn't expected that not being a virgin could be life-threatening.

Nazir always boasted about tracing his family tree back five generations.

His father had been killed fighting the Taliban.

His brother, too.

His mother still mourned them.

Otherwise she was a typical mother-in-law.

Cut it properly.

Nazir likes it that way.

Mighty Allah! Let me do it.

Nazir's sister, Freshta, had four children.

So I tried to help out.

You can't even change his diaper.

If this is what you guys do, we don't.

It's because you don't have your own kids.

Freshta's daughter, Roshangol, was like all girls her age all over the world.

Rustam!

Kamal!

Freshta's husband, Kaiz, sold chickens at the market.

He bought them nearly dead, cleaned them up and sold them.

Grandpa was the nicest.

I would sit with him for hours.

He taught me Dari, and I translated the news for him.

The Americans made a tragic mistake

and bombed a NATO base.

What? Again?

What kind of pilots do they have?

Nazir couldn't find a job.

He tried different embassies,

but no one needed an Afghan economist.

Nazir's mother told me on Day One:

pork and sinful thoughts are forbidden.

Otherwise, you're absolutely free.

And she was right.

If a woman didn't want to be attractive to anyone but her husband,

she'd be very happy in an Afghan family.

This will definitely help. You'll see.

Aunt Aziza got pregnant right away.

Nazir, you have to do it like this!

Off to bed!

And you finish your drink.

It's making me sick.

It'll work, you'll see.

May Allah bless your actions.

This is useless.

It'd be best if Nazir found a second wife.

With a healthy womb.

Just for making babies.

It upset us both, but I felt guilty.

Nazir tried to make me as happy as he could.

Pick something already.

Like these perhaps.

I don't have a green one.

Just hurry up though.

Oh well.

You got nice, plump tits. How about your cunt?

Next time I'll kill you.

Whore!

What?

It didn't really surprise me that the men saw Western women as whores.

An old VHS of Basic Instinct

was circulating around Kabul.

Move!

Get away. You hear me?

Hm, you see.

perhaps you'll lose weight.

Maybe.

Wow!

It'd look better on you.

Take it off at once! You won't wear that trash around decent people.

- But she looks nice. - She looks like a whore.

She'd get groped around the first corner.

By who? I can't even go near the window.

Because I won't let you live like them.

Quiet!

Kaiz, my boy,

in this house the only ones who can shout are me and my grandson.

Go make a scene at your own father's home.

And Roshangol will finally go to school. Just like her brothers.

As long as I'm alive, women in this family will be respected.

- Finally. - Aunt Nafissa.

His name is Muhammad. He has no one.

My son found him on the road.

They say you can't have children, so I thought

you won't mind if he looks a bit strange.

what? But I ...

He's very clever and sensitive. He's even been to school.

You'll get used to him. You'll see.

I don't know.

It won't trouble you. You're well off.

We're family after all.

Well...

He doesn't eat much.

I don't think he'll live long anyway.

That's enough! Go away!

He has a strange head. Like a lightbulb.

Each of us is unique.

There is one thing though.

Maad, stand up.

Mighty Allah! He isn't even circumcised!

Isn't he missing something?

The poor little guy has them inverted.

You damned women!

Get out!

What's your name, boy?

Mohammad.

You have the prophet's name.

It's a gift.

Don't be afraid.

Nobody is perfect.

And Allah surely has a reason for sending us the child.

We should all be grateful for this sign.

I snore sometimes, but you'll get used to it.

I wet my bed sometimes. I don't want to ruin it.

That's ok. We'll wash it.

I always wash my own stuff.

You see?

We have a son.

I'm a little scared.

Nonsense.

He's a good boy.

He's sick.

His muscles are atrophying. He won't live long.

No, it's Czech.

I'm from Czechia. In Europe.

What's it like there?

The nature, the towns...

People go to the cinema, for a beer.

And women don't wear burkas.

I'd like to see that.

Would you like to go to Europe, too?

This is my dream, boy.

The birthplace of your namesake, Mohammad.

Look.

I got a job!

I'll be driving for the Americans.

Zhulgai recommended me.

Great!

Maad!

- We're going on a trip. - Yay!

Look!

It used to be the greatest pride of Kabul.

But that was a long timo ago.

-Take that! - Leave them alone.

Look! It's your brothers, Maad.

Marjan. He's a beauty, isn't he?

But he's blind.

One Mujahadeen once made a bet to pet him.

But the lioness got mad and bit his head off.

Two days later, his brother threw in a grenade at it.

But he's still beautiful.

And he didn't give up. Like us.

And where’s Maad?

Maad?

- He was just here. - Maad!

Maad!

Maad!

- Maad? - Where are you?

- Maad! - Maad?

Maad!

Maad?

Nazir invited his employers from the humanitarian base to our house.

We had no idea how life changing this visit would be.

Zhulgai drove them over. Nazir's friend from war times.

Where can I sit?

Thank you.

Welcome to our house.

It's really beautiful here. On a hill with a great view.

I was angry.

Nazir simply denied my existence. That's how it's done around here.

Afghan women are hidden from visitors, so strangers can't see them.

I hope you'll be happy with my grandson's work.

He's an honest man.

If it weren't for him, we'd all die of hunger.

Of course. We're very happy with him.

Our family has always been progressive.

I worked all my life as a photographer in the city center.

Really?

This must be young Nazir.

Of course! And this is Zhulgai.