Smiling in a War Zone

Full Frame Women in Leadership Award 2006

NEW DOCS

For artist Simone Aaberg Kærn, the sky represents limitless freedom. When the skies are virtually closed down to civil pilots in the wake of the 9/11, Simone struggles with her visceral need to fly. It is this sense of curbed liberties that connects this female artist in Copenhagen to a young schoolgirl in Kabul. When Simone reads about Fairal’s desire to become a fighter pilot, the artist/pilot concocts an impossible mission to make this girl’s dream of flying come true. Thousands of kroner, a year of flying, and hundreds of bureaucratic nightmares precede meeting Fairal, where hope shimmers brightly and the impossible seems realizable. But cross-cultural encounters reveal more complexities than expected. A gorgeous film with infectious enthusiasm that nonetheless utters a poignant reminder about the hazards of gift giving.  SW

Directors

Simone Aaberg Kærn, Magnus Bejmar

Producer

Helle Ulsteen

Release Year

2005

Festival Year

2006

Country

Denmark

Run Time

78 minutes

Premiere

North American Premiere