Documentarian Eva Orner’s latest film follows the first independent television network to launch in Afghanistan in 30 years, TOLO TV, which has “changed the country enormously”:
In addition to soap operas, police dramas, singing contests, and call-in advice shows, TOLO TV’s lineup includes a Parks And Rec homage The Ministry, an ensemble comedy that “centers on the day-to-day running of the illustrious Ministry of Garbage.” But the biggest draw is sports:
[I]t was like World Cup soccer fever in Afghanistan. They just won their first international soccer title in the South Asian Football Federation Championship, where they beat India. It was three days of partying in Afghanistan. I was talking to people who were there, and they said that you can’t even imagine the fervor in the country. It’s incredibly inspirational and aspirational, which is part of what TOLO’s always been about. Afghanistan needs heroes, people that kids can look up to.
Previous Dish on Afghan entertainment here.
The Dish 