Nelofer Pazira - The journey to Bamiyan

This is the third chapter within Part 2 of The Giant Buddhas produced in 2005.
The Afghan/Canadian author and actress Nelofer Pazira grew up in Kabul at the time of the Soviet occupation. When she was just 16 years old, the family fled to Canada. That was in 1989. Twelve years later, Nelofer played the leading role in the film «Kandahar», produced by Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The film became a worldwide success. Nelofer Pazira lives and works in Toronto and the first scenes show her reviewing the printers' proofs for her book «A Bed of Red Flowers -- In search for my Afghanistan». Nelofer calls her father to ask him a few questions...
In his student days her father, Habibullah Pazira, like many educated Afghanis before the war, visited Bamiyan with his fellow scholars. They sat on the head of the 55 meter high Buddhas and played their instruments. Nelofer studies the photos of her father and his friends in Bamiyan. As her father proudly poses in front of the head of the great Buddha. How her father recalled the echo that reflected the voices of the singing students as if they were sitting in a circle. And her burning desire to be able to set eyes on the giant Buddhas, just once.
Nelofer flies to Kabul. The journey from the airport to the city brings back memories of her childhood: of a city with green parks, a thriving culture and a lot of poetry. Nelofer visits Afghanistan's National Museum that once housed one of the world's most priceless collections. Sadly at the beginning of the 90s, the museum located outside Kabul in the immediate vicinity of the parliamentary palace came under fire from warring factions of the mujaheddin. Thanks to the extraordinary courage of the museum director, Omara Khan Masoodi and his staff, at least part of the treasures could be brought to safety. But the museum was severely damaged and looted and thus became a symbol for a country that has lost its cultural past as no country before.
«A nation stays alive when its culture stays alive»
Inscription above the entrance to the National Museum
Nelofer sets out on the journey to Bamiyan. Although the valley is only 240 kilometres from Kabul, the bumpy drive in a jeep takes a whole day. Finally she reaches Bamiyan. Devastated, she stands in front of the empty niche of the former giant Buddha. The muezzin in the nearby mosque calls the faithful to evening prayers. Nelofer observes the empty niche and the rubble inside. For a few precious seconds she has the feeling that the great Buddha, once again, is standing in the niche.
This is a film documentary by Christian Frei also available on DVD.

[@johnrichard9606]

This is so very sad to watch.