How does one navigate the role of an Afghanistan ambassador while embracing feminism amidst the Taliban's ascension to power? This poignant question resonates on the webpage of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, dedicated to a new film helmed by Natalie Halla, titled 'The Last Ambassador.' The festival's page further illuminates the story of Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan's sole female ambassador in Austria post-Taliban takeover, who chose to confront adversity head-on.
In 2021, when the Taliban seized control, Bakhtari found herself in an unprecedented dilemma: representing, at least nominally, a nation whose regime she rejected and which lacked international recognition. Premiering worldwide in Copenhagen on Saturday, this documentary chronicles her journey as an ambassador, a woman, a wife, and a mother.
"Amidst severe economic and personal trials, Bakhtari resolves to confront the Taliban and relentlessly advocate for the rights of Afghan women and girls," emphasizes a synopsis of 'The Last Ambassador.' Through her 'Daughters' program, she clandestinely empowers Afghan schoolgirls to pursue education while also orchestrating political resistance against the Taliban on the global stage. In an escalating cascade of challenges, she emerged as a pivotal voice for Afghan women internationally, staying true to her creed: 'Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice.'"
THR is thrilled to exclusively unveil the trailer for 'The Last Ambassador,' capturing glimpses of Bakhtari's vitality, moral quandaries, and unwavering convictions, which the 75-minute film delves into with depth.
In the trailer, the ambassador is captured questioning, "There's no government, no president. What then is the purpose of an embassy?" Additionally, footage from Golden Girls Film, whose production the teaser showcases, with sales managed by The Party Sales, reveals Bakhtari's rebellious stance against an edict dispatched from her homeland.
