When She Hears the Bells
As Kabul falls to the Taliban, a widow risks everything to rescue a group of boys and reclaim their future.
Set in Kabul, as Taliban forces take hold of the city, “When She Hears the Bells” follows Leila, a young widow seeking a fresh start. After taking a kitchen job, she discovers a harrowing reality: the establishment secretly operates as a Bacha Bazi house, where young boys are forced to dance for powerful men and face sexual exploitation.
Driven by compassion, Leila risks everything to do what is right.
Directed by Chabname Zariab, the film stars international talent Golshifteh Farahani (Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson”, Eran Riklis’ “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, and Asghar Farhadi’s “About Elly”).
For Zariab, the project carries deep urgency: “The story also highlights the reality for women both before the Taliban’s return and since August 2021, when millions saw their rights erased and the world largely looked away. For me, telling this story is both a personal responsibility and an act of quiet resistance.”
What makes this film unforgettable is how it balances the tension of a thriller with profound humanity. Beneath the ticking clock lies a tender tribute to solidarity, courage, and the bonds forged when standing up for the vulnerable.
Malaika Bova
Biography
Chabname Zariab (1982) is an Afghan writer, screenwriter, and film director, born in Kabul. She moved to France with her family at the age of seven and later studied law and cinema in Paris. In 2011, she published her first novel, “The Afghan Pianist”. She made her filmmaking debut with the short film “When You Hear the Bells” (“Au bruit des clochettes”, 2015/2016), which she wrote and directed. She later directed “The Camel Boy” (2018) and “Hizia” (2020). Her short films have received international recognition, including a César nomination.
Filmography
Au bruit des clochettes (When You Hear the Bells, 2016, short), L'enfant chameau (2018, short), Hizia (2020, short), Les clochettes de Kaboul (When She Hears the Bells, 2026)
Award for the best film, grant of 5000€ by
