Café Voyage: Hawa, a New Start in Afghanistan is an evening screening held at Gazette Café in Montpellier, in the Occitania region of France. It is organised by the travellers' association ABM (Au bout du monde), and it suits visitors who would like to spend an evening with a film and a conversation rather than a formal exhibition or tour.
The film
The screening follows Hawa, an Afghan woman who was married as a child. Forty years later, she wants to become independent, learn to read and write, and create her own activity. The film traces those plans, which are then upended by the events of 15 August 2021. It is a personal story set against a much wider change, and it asks the viewer to consider what a new start can mean for one person.
The discussion
The screening is followed by a debate with Rasul Noori, co-director of the film. Audiences can put questions to him about the story, how it was made, and the situation it portrays.
What to know before you go
- Where: Gazette Café, Montpellier
- Who organises it: the travellers' association ABM (Au bout du monde)
- What it is: a film screening followed by a discussion with the co-director
- Details: the event listing and dates are published on the Gazette Café agenda page
Montpellier is a lively university city with a warm southern feel, and an evening at a café makes it easy to combine this event with a walk through the old town or a meal nearby.