The Sweetest Embrace: Return to Afghanistan

The Sweetest Embrace: Return to Afghanistan

| 1 h 14 min
Free
streaming

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This full-length documentary tells the story of 2 Afghans who return to Afghanistan in search of their families after a 16-year exile. Like many Afghan children, Soorgul and Amir were sent to Tajikistan during the Soviet occupation of their country. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the civil wars that broke out on both sides of the border left the children stranded, unable to leave the country until Canada accepted them as refugees.

The Sweetest Embrace tells an intimate story set against one of the world's most harsh and yet beautiful landscapes, in a land where life has been shaped by war and hardship but where spirit remains resilient.

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The Sweetest Embrace: Return to Afghanistan, Najeeb Mirza, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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Credits
  • writer
    Najeeb Mirza
  • director
    Najeeb Mirza
  • producer
    Bonnie Thompson
    Adam Symansky
    Najeeb Mirza
  • editor
    Joey Calugay
  • consulting editor
    Nick Hector
  • camera
    Jimmy Bustos
    Najeeb Mirza
  • sound
    Jimmy Bustos
    Najeeb Mirza
  • sound editing
    Leopoldo Gutierrez
  • composer
    Farangis Nurulla
  • additional camera
    Rafi Behroozian
    Ebenezer George
    Bill Kerrigan
    Haseeb Mirza
    Patrick Morrow
    Baryalai Dost Muhammad
  • additional sound
    Gary Bruckner
    Rick Hardy
  • key grip
    Allan Belyea
  • assistant editor
    Jimmy Bustos
    Ensor Mirza
  • additional editing
    Brenda Terning
  • narration
    Najeeb Mirza
  • production supervisor
    Steve Hallé
    Mark Power
  • musician
    Abduvali Abdurashid
    Jean-Marc Bouchard
    Julien Grégoire
    Guy Pelletier
    Kiya Tabassyan
    Ziya Tabassyan
  • translator
    Qudsia Hamidi
    Soorgul Roy Sakai
  • archival research
    Elizabeth Klinck
    Nailya Okda
  • sound edit assistant
    Carrie Haber
  • foley
    Lise Wedlock
  • re-recording
    Shelley Craig
  • driver
    Said Omar
    Mohammad Ehsan
    Mohammadullah
    Nabi
    Abdullah
    Assadullah
    Mohammad Nur Abdul Salom
    Safar Imronshaev
  • cook
    Aziz
    Abdul Karim
  • guard
    Aziz
    Abdul Karim
  • participant
    Amirdad Alamunbek
    Soorgul Roy Sakai
  • online editor
    Julie Monette
    Yannick Carrier
  • colourist
    Julie Monette
    Yannick Carrier
  • graphic design
    Philippe Raymond
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • production coordinator
    Ginette D'Silva
    Susan Lewis
    Faye Yoneda
  • technical coordinator
    Steve Hallé
    Mark Power
  • marketing manager
    Kelly Isaac
  • program administrator
    Darin Clausen
  • executive producer in development
    Graydon McCrea
  • executive producer in production
    Derek Mazur
 See also
Developing Countries
War, Conflict and Peace
Politics and Government
All subjects
Featured Films
World Views
Perspectives on Afghanistan
World Refugees
NFB Abroad: Asia On Screen
All channels
Add a new comment
  • marmalade

    We can relate to these two young men and contrast our Canadian lives with theirs. The journey home - with unforeseen stops along the journey. The breakdowns on the rocky roads. We compare this with are smooth trips, where our biggest problem is only being trapped in departures, or taking a wrong turn on our paved roads in North America. We only know of Afghanistan from news clips. This film helps show a priceless side to reality - that no fictional movie could do. This is the culture and humanity of the country we want to see. We can take the best from all cultures.

    marmalade, 29 May 2011
  • Francesca63

    Thank's to Najeeb Mirza and NFB for enabling us to witness the hard road back home in Afghanistan for those 2 young men. The film really captured the beauty of the scenery and and allowed me to further discover the way Afghan live in this part of the country. It succeeds to engage the viewer emotionally through the characters' sharing their and a happy destiny intimate thoughts and hopes. Best of luck and a happy future life to Soorgul and Amir.

    Francesca63, 5 Nov 2010
  • grannylin46

    After just reading Greg Mortenson book Three Cups of Tea and then having then being able to view The Sweetest Embrace that gave me even more insight into the Afghanistan people and there lives. At times heartrenching but still full of hope. I truly have learned something today Thank-you.

    grannylin46, 4 Nov 2010
  • jmatlin

    @saffronmeerkat - Sorry - technical difficulties. The film is now working.

    jmatlin, 29 Oct 2010
  • saffronmeerkat

    "sorry this film is not available"????

    saffronmeerkat, 29 Oct 2010

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