No Good Men

A more authentic picture of Afghanistan, told with humour and romance

★★★½

Afghanistan, 2021, shortly before the Taliban return to power. Naru, the only camerawoman at Kabul’s leading television station, is trying to keep custody of her three-year-old son. Since leaving her unfaithful husband, she – like most Afghan women - has become convinced that there are no good men in her country. So Naru is surprised when Qodrat, Kabul TV’s top journalist, offers her a career opportunity. As the two of them criss-cross the city reporting on the last days of freedom, sparks fly and Naru begins to doubt her conviction. Might there be a good man out there after all?

With No Good Men, director, screenwriter and lead actress Shahrbanoo Sadat sets out to show a different, more authentic picture of Afghanistan, with humour and romance. No Good Men opened this year’s Berlin Film Festival.