Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul

The very first credit at the end of this film is text that states that the film was shot on location in Kabul; to the viewer reaching this point this may have seemed like an unnecessary thing to stress in this way, but I guess the reason is obvious – the film wants this to be clear. This is probably because the location is the thing that this short film does best. We are used to only seeing one type of footage coming out of Afghanistan so images of children on skateboards enjoying themselves is something refreshingly different.

The weaker side of the film is the material, because really this is where the film isn't able to make the difference. It is good to hear about these types of programs and see what they could achieve but it is also depressing to hear mostly from the children because there isn't anything here to suggest a difference can be made in even the medium term. Perhaps that is unfair, because the film does present the hope of change but it would have been good to have heard from those in the community who support it or even from those that don't – the very tight focus on those directly involved did make it feel very isolated and I do not think this is totally the case. That said it is still cheering to see young Afghan women riding a skateboard through the town and on- location shots like these are what the film does very well.

Well worth seeing for the story, the people and the on-location filming, but I would have liked just a little bit more substance and insight along with it.