Alicia I love this movie so much

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Tayyab Torres Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

LiveLoveLead Inspired by a true story, this movie shares some insight into the world of being a woman in Afghanistan, as ruled by the Taliban, and it is not a pretty picture. As a single/widowed woman it is nearly impossible to get by if you don't have a male in the family. The Taliban will not let the women work, so they can't make money to feed their family. The men go out and fight in the Afghani war and when they are killed, their family is left destitute. The women are left with nothing but fear, heartbreak, and hopelessness. Osama is the story a family, consisting of three generations of women, trying to survive this repressive country. In desperation, the grandmother and mother decide to disguise the preteen daughter as a boy, so "he" can get work to support the family. Renamed Osama, the girl is completely out of her element and petrified, just walking in the streets, let alone as all the boys are rounded up by the Taliban and forced into school and military training. There were many things to like about this foreign movie, but also things that bugged me. This was the first entirely Afghan film shot since the fall of the Taliban, and Biarmak (the director), used all amateurs, people taken off the streets of Kabul, to shoot this film...Therein lies some of the problems. Maybe it's a cultural thing, maybe poor acting or poor directing, but some of the film didn't feel right. When Osama was whining and making poor decisions, I didn't feel that it was realistic, for a girl who would certainly be killed, if her secret was discovered. I think common sense would have made her not use her high pitched voice & whine so much. Also, I read that the title of the movie and the ending was completely changed to an opposite outcome from the original. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but the ending wasn't what I was hoping for. All in all this is a moving and insightful film and definitely worth watching, as long as you don't mind subtitles, a realistic but slow moving story, and an ending that isn't tied up in a neat little bow. 7.4 out of 10 stars In My Humble Opinion! 08/2013

jcravens42 A movie that shows the terrifying realities of living under the Taliban, through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl forced by her mother and grandmother to pass as a boy in order to work. It is a fascinating film that presents the horrors most effectively by showing you people's reaction to what they witness, without actually showing the audience the graphic details. You don't have to know in-depth history to understand the film, but you will get much more out of the film if you know a bit about Kabul before the Taliban, and the Taliban-fueled conflicts between Pashtun tribes and the Dari-speaking tribes of Afghanistan. A good film to watch after this is Panj é asr (At Five in the Afternoon), which takes place immediately after the fall of the Taliban and was also filmed in Kabul. They make a nice double feature... though maybe not in one sitting, as neither is uplifting.

princyj67 I read somewhere that Marina Golbahari used the money she made from this film to buy her parents a house in a poor part of Afghanistan. For me this seemed to fit in with the inequality of life that was depicted in this movie. I couldn't help but think that the star of one of the best movies I have seen in years could only manage a cheap house with her earnings while lesser actors in much lesser films earn millions. This movie for me was a real eye opener, not only in regards to the treatment of people under the rule of a military regime, but life in general in Afghanistan. The main point that I got from this movie is that not everyone who lives under a particular government supports or agrees with what they are told to do or with what is happening in their country. Most people just want to raise their children, have food to eat, and to get on with their lives.

qonder I saw this movie when it appeared on a local cable station. I am usually attracted to foreign films as Hollywood seems intent on focusing on old TV shows and comic book characters.The story takes place in Afghanistan under the tyrannical rule of the Taliban. I've never been to Afghanistan, but I have visited a third world country where the people lived in oppression. The plot summary says the film is inspired by a true story. It was not hard for me to believe that I was viewing what life was/is? like for people living under the Taliban (especially women).The film has English subtitles. If you are curious in seeing how the Afghans lived under the Taliban, this film should confirm your worst suspicions. I rated the film an eight, not based so much on the production, but mostly because of the content/relevancy.