Message from krupp

[Anonymous]

For those of us who can't quite understand what life might have been like under taliban rule in Afghanistan, "Osama" is the film equivalent of "required reading." The cast of amature actors amazed me with their portrayals. I intuited that much of it wasn't acting. These people apparently lived through this and the fear I saw in their eyes may not have been a planned reaction, but a reaction to ghosts of the past.
The title character, an Afghani girl, is dressed up as a boy by her mother and her grandmother so that she can go out into the world and earn money for the family. I find it interesting that we never find out what her name is. We are only given her pseudonym, Osama. After her transformation, she is threatened by a local "street rat." After this encounter, the boy, Espandi, begins to sympathize and takes it upon himself to protect Osama. He becomes her ally and their friendship is touching.
The ending is an unhappy one, subtly revealed by the director. This reminds us of the harsh realities of life under taliban rule. Although the movie gives us glimpses of friendship and happiness, the overarching theme is one of persecution and misery. The director never lets us forget that life under taliban rule was no picnic. I doubt that the Afghan people will ever forget.