The Secret Reading Club of Kabul documentary highlights Afghan women's struggle

The documentary “The Secret Reading Club of Kabul,” directed by Shakiba Adil and Elina Hirvonen, explores the lives of Afghan women living under Taliban rule. The film follows a group of girls in Kabul who meet in secret to read “The Diary of Anne Frank,” using the text to navigate their shared experiences of fear and loss of freedom.

Through video diaries, the film documents the escalating restrictions and violence faced by women, including attacks on schools, arrests during martial arts practice, and the prohibition of women speaking in public. The documentary intertwines the protagonists' stories with the personal experiences of director Shakiba Adil, who grew up under the first Taliban regime and was later forced to flee Afghanistan.

Winner at the Copenhagen Documentary Festival, the film has been presented at the Festa di Roma, highlighting the systemic segregation and human rights violations occurring in Afghanistan.