Film Preview: Slave To The Rhythm @ Amnesty

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 164 months ago
Film Preview: Slave To The Rhythm @ Amnesty

Afghan_Star.jpg Amnesty are screening a series of documentaries about the arts helping people to overcome obstacles in their lives. There are two stand-out films - No One Knows About Persian Cats, last year's Cannes Special Jury Prize winner about an Iranian duo trying to form a rock band on their release from prison, and Afghan Star, following the eponymous Pop Idol-style TV series in Afghanistan, where one contestant received death threats after dancing onscreen.

Also, and definitely not just making up the numbers, Only When I Dance is the story of two girls hoping ballet will get them out of Rio's favelas (showing tonight), Super Girls! documents a Chinese televised singing contest that the authorities took off the air, Escape from Luanda follows three students at Angola's Music School and Suffering and Smiling looks at the legacy of Fela Kuti.

Not in the Slave to the Rhythm series but worth mentioning is a screening of For Neda. Director Antony Thomas spent time with Neda Agha-Soltan's family after she was notoriously shot dead during an anti government demonstration in Tehran, and will be chatting after the screening on 5th July.

Slave to the Rhythm screenings, throughout July, and For Neda, 5th July 6.30pm, are all free of charge at Amnesty's Human Rights Action Centre. For more information see the Amnesty website.

Last Updated 01 July 2010