Afghan Star (2009)
89%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 3 nominations
An enlightening and sobering documentary on Afghanistan’s very own X-Factor
Afghan Star is like American Idol, but with a lot more heart and a lot less Simon Cowell. This documentary takes us on a journey through Afghanistan’s version of the popular singing competition, and it’s a wild ride. From sharp-tongued judges to starry-eyed contestants, this show has it all. But it’s not just about the singing – it’s about the people. We get a glimpse into the lives of real Afghans, and it’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. If you’re looking for a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even sing along, Afghan Star is the one for you.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Marvel Enterprises Marvel Studios,
Distributor
Zeitgeist
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Afghanistan
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2009
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 28m
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Language(s):English, Pashtu, Dari
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 26, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 30, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Afghanistan, pop culture, American Idol, singing competition, Taliban, freedom of expression, contestants, women, Havana Marking, English, limited release, box office, Zeitgeist, reviewed by David Fear, Marc Savlov, Joe Williams, Sara Michelle Fetters, Jonathan Curiel, Michael Upchurch, Nikki Baughan, Mattie Lucas, Emanuel Levy, Ian Buckwalter, Sean Axmaker, Rob Humanick, starring Hameed, Rafi, Lima, Setara, directed by Havana Marking, written by Havana Marking, produced by Havana Marking, MPAA rating, enlightening, sobering, vibrant community, accepting, cultural watershed moment, democracy, human drama, inspiring, eye-opening
Worldwide gross: $112,909
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $156,053
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,973
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,018
US/Canada gross: $102,115
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $141,134
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,603
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,671
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,074
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,799
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Director(s)
Havana Marking
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (62)
While its style and structure conform to the well-worn template established by docs like Spellbound, its success lies in creating an accessible, fun way into serious issues.
November 17, 2011
David Fear
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
One of the more surreal docs to come down the pike in some time.
October 16, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Of all the films to come out of the conflict, Afghan Star is the most provocative, because its message that people are essentially the same is a dubious, double-edge sword.
September 17, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
It’s hard not to look at the effect this program is having on the country and not come away thinking military might isn’t the solution a lot of those in power would like us to believe it is.
September 4, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Like The Kite Runner novel and movie, the documentary Afghan Star succeeds at dramatizing the lives of Afghans, but those we see on screen are real flesh-and-blood characters — people who let their true feelings emerge.
August 21, 2009 | Rating: 4/4
Jonathan Curiel
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
An informative documentary revealing how decades of war and years of Taliban repression have fallen to the wayside, however briefly, as Kabul’s answer to American Idol seduces a violence-weary Afghanistan.
August 21, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Upchurch
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s absolutely fascinating to see such a familiar talent show format – complete with sharp-tongued judges and starry-eyed wannabees – in such a vastly different setting.
October 31, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Nikki Baughan
Roll Credits
So much more than a reality show, it is a microcosm of the birth of a new democracy, of a free people facing the dawn of a new day.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Timely and intriguing docu was the winner of the Directing and Audience Awards at the Sundance Film Fest.
June 22, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
For all the dramatic pull of the competition and insight into current culture and politics in Afghanistan, it’s a bit of a shame that the film itself is such a dry affair.
June 13, 2010 | Rating: 6/10
Ian Buckwalter
DCist
… more than a popular phenomenon, this documentary shows how a simple, completely apolitical piece of entertainment crosses ethnic, regional and cultural borders…
April 11, 2010
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
For once, the McDonald’s-like spreading of American culture abroad seems to have actually been a good thing.
March 18, 2010
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth…
Plot
Afghan Star is a documentary that follows four contestants, including two women, as they audition, sing and compete in a countrywide “American Idol”-type competition called “Pop Idol” in Afghanistan.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels says that Afghan Star follows four contestants, including two women, as they audition, sing, and compete in a countrywide “American Idol”-type competition called “Pop Idol.”
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