The Beauty Academy of Kabul (2004)

After decades of war and the Taliban, the women of Afghanistan need... a makeover?

What happens when a group of hairdressers from America travel to Kabul with the intention of telling Afghan women how to do hair and makeup? This engaging, optimistic documentary tracks a unique development project: a shiny new beauty school, funded in part by beauty-industry mainstays, which sets out to teach the latest cutting, coloring, and perming techniques to practicing and aspiring Afghan hairdressers and beauticians. The American teachers, all volunteers, include three Afghan-Americans returning home for the first time in over twenty years. The Beauty Academy of Kabul offers a rare glimpse into Afghan women’s lives, and documents the poignant and often humorous process through which women with very different experiences of life come to learn about one another.

Director: Liz Mermin
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 74 min
Release Date:
Music: Ahmad Zahir
Cinematography: Lynda Hall
Editing: Liz Mermin
Country: United Kingdom, United States of America
Language: English
Box Office: $225,399
Original Language: en

Keywords

afghanistan, beauty salon, woman director

More Films by Director: Liz Mermin
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Beauty Academy of Kabul about?
What happens when a group of hairdressers from America travel to Kabul with the intention of telling Afghan women how to do hair and makeup? This engaging, optimistic documentary tracks a unique development project: a shiny new beauty school, funded in part by beauty-industry mainstays, which sets out to teach the latest cutting, coloring, and perming techniques to practicing and aspiring Afghan hairdressers and beauticians. The American teachers, all volunteers, include three Afghan-Americans returning home for the first time in over twenty years. The Beauty Academy of Kabul offers a rare glimpse into Afghan women’s lives, and documents the poignant and often humorous process through which women with very different experiences of life come to learn about one another.
Who directed The Beauty Academy of Kabul?
The Beauty Academy of Kabul was directed by Liz Mermin.
How long is The Beauty Academy of Kabul?
The Beauty Academy of Kabul has a runtime of 1h 14m (74 minutes).
What genre is The Beauty Academy of Kabul?
The Beauty Academy of Kabul is a Documentary film.
How much did The Beauty Academy of Kabul gross?
The Beauty Academy of Kabul grossed $225,399 worldwide.
Where was The Beauty Academy of Kabul produced?
The Beauty Academy of Kabul was produced in United Kingdom, United States of America.