In Her Hands

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In Her Hands

PG-13,

2022,

1h 33m,

Documentary

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Watchlist

58%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

33%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

33%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Filmed across two turbulent years, In Her Hands tells the story of Zarifa Ghafari, who at 26 became one of Afghanistan's first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. The film documents her fight for survival against the backdrop of her country's accelerated unraveling. As Western forces announce their retreat and the Taliban start their sweep back to power, Zarifa and women across the country face a new reality. Amid these tectonic changes, Zarifa must make the most difficult decision of her life.

S. Nicole Lane

Chicago Reader

Nov 23, 2022

The film is an introduction to Ghafari’s activism and career, but it shouldn’t be the end of it.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Nov 18, 2022

By giving a voice both to Ghafari and — in a few scattered scenes — her fierce opposition, “In Her Hands” does capture with direct immediacy how hard it can be to loosen up a culture with a tradition of rigidity.

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Devika Girish

New York Times

Nov 16, 2022

At points, the lack of context is not just sloppy but irresponsible.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Nov 18, 2022

As mayor from 2017, what was she able to accomplish before it all began to fall apart? We have no idea. Nor can we quite suss why the filmmakers give nearly equal focus to her driver-bodyguard...

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Romey Norton

Ready Steady Cut

Nov 17, 2022

3.5/5

Women have obstacles put in their way from birth, and the passion and upset in this documentary that we see from not only Zarifa herself but her family is heartbreaking.

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Zoë Rose Bryant

Next Best Picture

Nov 16, 2022

4/10

Not only is the time we spend with Ghafari simply a straightforward telling of history (and not the parts we’re most interested in), but there needs to be more of it

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Marcel Mettelsiefen

Director

Tamana Ayazi

Director

Zarifa Ghafari

Self

Juan Camilo Cruz

Producer

Jonathan Schaerf

Producer

Tamana Ayazi

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Filmed across two turbulent years, In Her Hands tells the story of Zarifa Ghafari, who at 26 became one of Afghanistan's first female mayors and the youngest to ever hold the position. The film documents her fight for survival against the backdrop of her country's accelerated unraveling. As Western forces announce their retreat and the Taliban start their sweep back to power, Zarifa and women across the country face a new reality. Amid these tectonic changes, Zarifa must make the most difficult decision of her life.

Director: Marcel Mettelsiefen, Tamana Ayazi
Producer: Juan Camilo Cruz, Jonathan Schaerf
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Propagate, HiddenLight Productions, Moondog Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Drug Use|Violent Content|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2022
Runtime: 1h 33m

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