The Etilaat Roz
Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023
May 31 - June 11, 2023
In August 2021, staff at the most widely read newspaper in Kabul, ‘Etilaat Roz’, are left with an impossible choice after the Taliban seize power: stay and continue reporting—risking torture, imprisonment, and death—or join thousands of others attempting to flee the country. ‘Etilaat Roz’ staff member Abbas Rezaie films his colleagues as they navigate the days that changed their lives and the direction of the country.
Q&A with Fatima Faizi, freelance journalist and Zaki Daryabi, Editor in Chief of Etilaatroz and producer. Moderated by John Sifton, Advocacy Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch.
From inside the office of the city’s most widely read newspaper, The Etilaat Roz is a firsthand account of the August 2021 takeover of Kabul by the Taliban. Afghan filmmaker and Etilaat Roz staff member Abbas Rezaie relentlessly films and questions his passionate colleagues on the editorial team in the days leading up to, during, and after the takeover as they try to decide whether to stay and continue reporting—risking torture, imprisonment and death—or join thousands of others attempting to flee the country. What begins as shock at a surreal situation gradually shifts to realization of an inescapable reality at their doorstep.
Tensions rise as Rezaie’s colleagues must balance their families’ safety with their dedication to providing honest reporting, while the Taliban sets its sights on curbing the free press. This dramatic account of a group of courageous journalists in their struggle for truth, freedom and life is poignantly captured by Rezaie’s camera, fully immersing the viewer in this rapidly changing environment.
The Etilaat Roz is a piece of history. It depicts the most heartbreaking moments of Kabul’s collapse, which make every Afghan emotional, including me. But it also demonstrates how strong our defenders of free speech are. -Fereshta Abbasi, Researcher, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch
Our history has always been narrated from the ruler’s point of view, whereas the people who change the course of history with their resilience, bravery, and sacrifices are not shown anywhere except in the newsreels. I want to get as close to the people as possible and continue recording their lives. This time it’s a personal film, with lots of poetry and, of course, history. – Abbas Rezaie, director of The Etilaat Roz.
The Etilaat Roz also screens digitally nationwide between June 5 – 11 on HRWFF’s digital streaming platform. Watch here.
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