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'An Unfinished Journey' celebrates North American premiere at Hot Docs

Hot Docs Festival kicked off this week and runs until May 5. There are over 150 films to check out at this year's documentary festival. One of them, tells the stories of four women from Afghanistan who previously held important positions, before the Taliban came to power.

Hot Docs Festival runs April 25 to May 5

Talia Ricci · CBC News ·

Documentary on life after Taliban's 2021 takeover premieres at Hot Docs

7 months ago
Duration 3:48
This year’s Hot Docs Festival is showcasing over 150 films, including ‘An Unfinished Journey,’ a documentary centering the stories of four Afghan women – three former Members of Parliament and a journalist – who were stripped of their positions when the Taliban came to power in 2021. CBC’s Talia Ricci sat down with the Toronto-based co-director to learn more about the making of the film.

When the Taliban come to power in Afghanistan in 2021, four women — three former Members of Parliament and a journalist — were stripped of their positions and their rights overnight.

They've since resettled in Canada.

An Unfinished Journey shares their stories.

"They're strong, they're incredible, but they're also welcoming and warm and lovely and they showed such a resilience," said Toronto-based co-director Aeyliya Husain.

Husain says the film sheds light on how heartbroken the women are to be separated from their families, and for those they've left behind.

Despite what they've been through, the women continue to mobilize and raise awareness.

Husain hopes the film encourages more people —  including national and international leaders — to recognize the oppression these women are facing.

"If we allow a country and a regime like the Taliban to strip half a population of their human rights and no one does anything, what makes us think that's not going to happen in another country?" Husain said.

An Unfinished Journey is playing Friday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Talia Ricci

Talia Ricci is a TV, radio and web reporter at CBC Toronto. She enjoys covering offbeat human interest stories and exposing social justice issues. Talia is also an avid traveller and photographer. Her photography has appeared in various publications and exhibits. She lives in Toronto's west end where she enjoys reading and going on long walks to discover the beauty in the city.

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