Kamay

The death of a young woman leads a Hazara family to look for answers and pursue justice on the eve of the Taliban’s takeover.

Zahra Khawari was, like many young women, living away from home for the first time as a university student; but as a member of Afghanistan’s Hazara minority – an ethnicity that has long been the target of systemic violence and oppression – she was, unlike most of her peers, particularly vulnerable to persecution. When she was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Kabul University in 2017, members of her family travelled from their home in the mountainous province of Daikundi to the country’s capital in pursuit of understanding. Over the long and arduous journey through militant-controlled territory and the years of grieving that followed, her family remain committed to justice and transparency – despite the many obstacles put in their path by the powers that be.

Made with a powerful sense of place, Afghan filmmaker Ilyas Yourish’s debut feature documentary intimately depicts the day-to-day life of the family in their rural home – and, particularly, the hopes and dreams of her younger sister, Freshta – as the country descends into Taliban rule. Taking its title from a hardy plant known for its resistance to the harsh landscapes in which it’s found, Kamay was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2024 Asia Pacific Screen Awards and also screened in competition at Visions du Réel.

“Haunting and multi-layered, this is a stunning debut doc on death, female resistance and knowledge in the mountains of Afghanistan.” – The Film Verdict