Elham Ehsas, an Afghan filmmaker and actor, is set to premiere his short film 'Forgotten Spaceman' at the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival. The film, which blends documentary and essay elements, tells the story of Abdul Ahad Momand, Afghanistan's first cosmonaut, who made Pashto the fourth language ever spoken in space in 1988. Ehsas, who is of Afghan descent, stumbled upon Momand's story while researching a fiction film about space. He was surprised to learn that an Afghan had gone into space, and this discovery led him to delve into his own family history and the broader narrative of Afghanistan's past.
The film explores the 'shadows of colonialism and the memory of a fractured and silenced nation' and examines the impact of Afghanistan's history on its people, particularly those who have been forced into exile. Ehsas, who is a first-generation refugee, reflects on the loss of home and the experiences of migration and refugeeship. He highlights the tendency of the West to portray Afghanistan solely through the lens of conflict and violence, while neglecting the country's rich history of achievement and imagination.
'Forgotten Spaceman' features Afghan music, with Ehsas using old folk songs to structure the film like a music album. The film's title, 'Hershewe Fazanawerd', translates to 'the man who went to space' in Pashto, Ehsas' mother tongue. He chose to do the voiceover in Pashto as an ode to his mother tongue and Momand's language.
Ehsas is also working on his first feature film, 'Our Kind of Love', which explores the meeting of the East and the West. The film is based on his first short film and delves into the interactions between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Ehsas believes that storytelling is a challenging yet valuable endeavor, and he is committed to putting in the time and effort to get it right.
The premiere of 'Forgotten Spaceman' at the Locarno Film Festival marks a significant step in Ehsas' career, and he expresses excitement about the audience's reactions. He also mentions the importance of collaboration in filmmaking, particularly in the sound design and music aspects of the film. Ehsas' work aims to bring attention to Afghanistan's rich history and the experiences of its people, particularly those who have been affected by conflict and exile.
