Families of Afghanistan

The latest installment of the award-winning PBS-aired series Families of the World takes young viewers on a close-up journey to a place they no doubt hear a lot about—Afghanistan. The familiar format features visits with one rural and one urban child, although in this case both are girls, and close in age. Viewers will see 13-year-old Zamora, who lives in the country, tending farm animals, performing various housekeeping and yard chores, preparing food, and engaging in ritual prayers. Madina, 12, who resides in Kabul, leads a relatively modern and comparatively more secular life that is quite different: Madina attends school, tutors other students on using a computer, and uses small appliances to do household tasks (her bedroom is covered with Mickey and Minnie Mouse images). However, the two girls share some important aspects of life, the main one being that they both live in a nation that has been at war for over 30 years. Zamora is seen feeding her armless, blind uncle, while describing the injuries caused by land mines; and Madina talks about her family's experience for many years as refugees in Pakistan. Despite the various restrictions encountered during filming (including the necessity of keeping people anonymous), this entry remains true to the series' intent of objectively and respectfully introducing family life and culture in other countries to younger viewers. Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, J, P. (E. Gieschen)