How do you build free press in a society that is characterized by multiple wars and the restrictions of the press? How do you reclaim your voice after years of oppression? The movie Frame by Frame, screened by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues on Monday, April 25 in ATS, highlights the life of four photojournalists as they struggle to establish free media and raise awareness of hardships in Afghanistan.

Set in a modern Afghanistan, Frame by Frame follows the life of four photojournalists, the first to be trained in media since the end of the regime, as they navigate through the emerging and dangerous media landscape. The film further highlighted the struggle and oppression women receive in their new society. Through intimate interviews, photojournalism and archival footage shot in secret during the Taliban regime, the film shows the way journalists use photography to find their voices again.

Since the Taliban fell from power in 2001, a fledgling free press emerged and a photography revolution was born. Today, Afghanistan has 75 TV channels and over 200 private radio stations, but the country still remains a dangerous place for journalists. Intimidation, physical violence and killings restrict the free press. Now, as foreign troops and media withdraw, Afghanistan is left to stand on its own, and so are its journalists. Journalists now play a delicate role in the conflict between the Taliban insurgency and government forces, and their lives are often threatened by both parties.

The movie was followed by a discussion guided by associate producer and translator, Baktash Ahadi, and Dickinson alum and women’s and human rights’ activist, Noorjahan Akbar ’14. Akbar has been a prominent public speaker about women’s equality and has written several articles for The New York Times, Al Jazeera and other major news sources about the social and economic empowerment of women. In the comments, Akbar emphasized the importance of empathizing with victims of wars and trying to understand their perspectives when aiding them. She also highlighted the way photojournalism shows exact moments, thereby holding the truth.

Approximately 75 students, faculty and community members attended the event.

“The event opened my eyes to the continued struggle of the Afghan people, particularly women. Because the war in Afghanistan has become old news and is frequently ignored by the media, I had sort of forgotten about it,” said Rowan Humphries ’19, who was particularly inspired by the movie. “Through the movie, however, I discovered that the struggle still continues today – when countries like the U.S. invade a country like Afghanistan and topple a bad regime like the Taliban, it seems like the war is success, case closed. But really, it’s not over, because if the U.S. does not help to build a new stable government, and provide aid for the millions of refugees whose homes were destroyed by war, the lives of the citizens will not improve, in fact they will be even worse off.”