Paikar

In Paikar, Dutch-Afghan director Dawood Hilmandi initiates a profound cinematic confrontation with his estranged father—a former mujahideen militant who now lives as an imam, author, and poet. Traversing a geographical continuum between the Netherlands, Iran, and Afghanistan, this intimate documentary investigates the unspoken psychological trauma and profound silences passed down through generations of conflict. By capturing this vulnerable paternal encounter, Hilmandi strips away broader geopolitical narratives to focus on a fundamental human quest for reconciliation, affection, and mutual comprehension.