Smiling in a War Zone

Smiling in a War Zone, also known as Flying Down to Kabul, is a partly documentary film by artist Simone Aaberg Kærn about flying from Denmark to Afghanistan to help a young Afghani girl becoming a pilot. It was filmed in 2002 and released on 14 September 2006.[1]

Smiling in a War Zone / Flying Down to Kabul
Directed bySimone Aaberg Kærn
CinematographyMagnus Bejmar
Release date
  • 14 September 2006 (2006-09-14)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryDenmark, Turkey, Afghanistan
LanguageDanish, English

Background

Kærn sees airspace as an expression of individual freedom, void of political borders.[2][3] In 1999, Kærn made a film about Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) called Sisters in the sky.[4] Inspired by the WASPs, Kærn obtained a flying license.[5]

Flying to Kabul
External media
Images
Seize the Sky
Video
Official trailer video

After the September 11 attacks, airspace became restricted, and allied forces deposed the Taliban regime.

In January 2002, Kærn sat in a café in Copenhagen and read a newspaper article about Farial, (16-year-old girl in Kabul) wanting to fly airplanes.[6] Kærn decided to fly with partner Magnus Bejmar 6,000 km to Kabul and give the girl the experience of flight, and also reclaim the freedom of the skies.[2][7]

With money from WASP paintings in Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, she bought a Piper Colt from 1961, a small airplane.[8]

During a 3-month trip through flight-restricted Balkan, they met with female fighter pilots in Turkey[9] and talked about the world's first female fighter pilot Sabiha Gökçen,[10][11] and made an aerial heart of smoke with the Turkish Air Force.

On day 77, they flew from Mashhad, Iran crossing the border, to Herat without authorization from NATO.

In Kabul, they met with Farial who got to fly the plane. They also met with two colonel sister pilots flying Mil Mi-17 helicopters. In the end, cultural differences prevented Farial going further.

The film won the "Full Frame Women in Leadership Award" in 2006.[1]

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References
  1. "Smiling in a War Zone" Internet Movie Database. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  2. "Smiling in a War Zone" CinemaTurkey, 22 March 2011. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  3. "Art Gallery Exhibition Explores Women in Aviation" San Diego State University College of Arts & Letters, Department of Women's Studies, 2 March 2010. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  4. "Sisters in the sky Internet Movie Database. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  5. "Simone Aaberg Kærn" Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, 9 December 2010. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  6. Jensen, Carsten. "A Travel Letter: Behind the Veil in Kabul" PBS / Politiken, 2002. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  7. "Smiling in a War Zone" New York Times. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  8. Bech-Danielsen, Anne. "Portræt: Aktivisten og feministen bag statsministerportrættet" Politiken, 4 December 2010. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  9. "Smiling in a Warzone" International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Retrieved: 9 September 2012.
  10. Sabiha Gökçen's biography, USAF Air Command and Staff College
  11. Sabiha Gokcen biography, Hargrave Pioneers of Aviation
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