FireDancer (2004)

Synopsis: The 1979 war between Afghanistan and Russia saw many Afghan refugees flee the country and settle in the United States. FIREDANCER director Jawed Wassel was one of these people, and with this... The 1979 war between Afghanistan and Russia saw many Afghan refugees flee the country and settle in the United States. FIREDANCER director Jawed Wassel was one of these people, and with this fictional tale he attempts to recreate his experiences as an Afghan citizen in New York City. Haris (Baktash Zaher-Khadem) is an orphaned immigrant, shipped off to the Big Apple by his parents when the Russian Army invades. Now in his twenties, he struggles to make a name for himself in the cliquey art world. Although he feels assimilated into American culture, Haris is plagued by memories from his past, and yearns to understand more about his history. Laila (Mariam Weiss) is a fellow Afghan immigrant, but her experiences couldn't be more different to Haris's. Surrounded by interfering family members who immerse themselves in Afghani culture, Laila must cope with an arranged marriage to a temperamental distant cousin. Director Wassel develops the contrasting experiences of Haris and Laila separately, before bringing the two characters together through a chance meeting in the street. Laila is initially wary of Haris's attempts to pick her up, but as he turns on the charm she realizes they have more in common than she first thought. Jared Wassel's poignant story of his immigrant experience is an emotionally charged affair. Sadly, the film was both Wassel's first and last effort, as the director was brutally murdered by one of the film's producers, Nathan C. Powell. FIREDANCER stands as a fine testament to his vision and talent. [More]

Starring: Baktash Zaher-Gardner, Sofia Cameron, Yunis Azizi, Yasmine Weiss

Starring: Baktash Zaher-Gardner, Sofia Cameron, Yunis Azizi, Yasmine Weiss, Omar Arzo

Director: Jawed Wassel

Director: Jawed Wassel
Screenwriter: Jawed Wassel
Producer: Ghulam Jewayni, Nathan C. Powell, John G. Roche, Khaled Wassel
Composer: John Loeffler
Studio: SilkRoad Pictures

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