Dekanalog

What We Left Unfinished

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Edition Type: Limited Edition Slipcover

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This Partner Label release is distributed through Vinegar Syndrome's sister company OCN Distribution. Vinegar Syndrome had no part in, nor are responsible for, the restoration, extras, quality control or any content(s) of this release. We hope you enjoy our growing roster of Partner Labels and the expertise and curation brought to each release by their dedicated staff!

Details

This special limited edition slipcover is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Dekanalog is a film and soundtrack distribution company dedicated to the release of the most unique filmmaking voices and musical scores from around the world. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!

In a time when film was more than just entertainment—it was a weapon—WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED unearths the incredible true stories behind five unfinished feature films from Afghanistan’s Communist era (1978-1991). Filmmakers who dared to defy the odds, creating stories that both reflected and resisted the shifting political tides, were thrust into a battle where their craft became a matter of life and death.

Through stunningly restored, newly rediscovered footage from these long-lost films, WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED takes you on an unforgettable journey into a world where the line between history and fiction often blurred beyond recognition. Witness the filmmakers’ struggles against scarce resources, relentless threats, and political oppression as they sought to tell stories they believed could change the fate of their country.

WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED is not just a chronicle of lost films—it’s a window into the soul of a nation torn apart by war, ideology, and shifting allegiances. You’ll come to understand the cost Afghan filmmakers paid under Communism, the rewards they reaped despite the dangers, and why they still believe that cinema holds the power to heal the wounds that continue to divide Afghanistan today.

This is a story of resilience, of hope, and of the unbreakable belief in the power of film to shape reality.

Join us in uncovering a hidden chapter of history. A story that’s unfinished—but still calling for completion.

directed by: Mariam Ghani
starring: Latif Ahmadi, Jawanshir Haidari, Asadollah Aram
2019 / 71 min / 1.85:1 / Dari, English DTS-HD MA 5.1

Additional info:

  • Region A Blu-ray
  • Introduction from filmmaker Mariam Ghani
  • Extended interview with filmmaker Latif Ahmadi
  • Q&A with filmmaker Mariam Ghani and Shahrzad Mojab, Director or Women and Gender Studies at the Institute at the University of Toronto
  • Discussion with composer Qasim Naqvi and Mariam Ghani
  • Follow The Leader (2019) - Short Film
  • Trailer for Dark Days (1974)
  • Trailer for Epic of Love (1986)
  • Trailer for What We Left Unfinished
  • English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.875 / 5 from 8 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["documentary","release","film"].

Review highlights

Reviews

Reason 87 why the partner labels rule

"Fascinating corner of cinema I knew nothing about, a slice of culture and time. Wonderful release!!"

Casey V. (5/5)

One of. the best documentaries

"What a time capsule of 1980s Afghanistan. Great set of extras to supplement the the main feature. I wish some of the completed movies mentioned around the time (like Akhtar the Joker) were available with Eng subtitles. Hopefully the director is working on this."

Adam A. (5/5)

Documentary About Movies

"I love documentaries like this, and not only does this explore unfinished films, but it also sheds a lot of light on recent Afghan politics and societal structures."

Forrest M. (5/5)

Great untold Afghani tale.

"Was really interested in this particular release as my wife is an Afghani refugee who came here after the Soviet invasion in the 80s. This was really a great telling of a “lost” history. Highly recommend to anyone interested in this area of the world and in film history in general."

Brent B. (5/5)

Great release!

"WHAT WE LEFT UNFINISHED tells the story of five unfinished fiction feature films from the Communist era in Afghanistan (1978-1991), and the people who went to crazy lengths to make them, in a time when films were weapons, filmmakers became targets, and the dreams of constantly shifting political regimes merged with the stories told onscreen."

Sebastian V. (5/5)

Unfinished but Perfect

"This is a fantastic documentary on what feels like a lost alternate reality. Afghan Cinema was a thing in the late 70s and it could’ve been so much more. This is entertaining and deeply moving."

Bryan K. (5/5)

Compelling stuff!

"This is a wonderful chronicle of an unheralded film industry that made me want to seek out every movie mentioned."

Charles A. (4/5)

Tragically Beautiful

"Words fail. Wonderful and so sad."

Fritzie B. (5/5)

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