Friendship Interrupted: Roya Sadat Returns to the Revolution with Sophomore Feature “Sima’s Song”

Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat (who saw her debut film A Letter To The President preem in Locarno) appears to be moments away from embarking on the production of her sophomore feature. Screen Daily reports Sima’s Song (formerly known as The Forgotten History) is moving swimmingly landing some players and a backdrop that might surprise some as a stand-in for Kabul. Sadat will be filming the dramatic thriller in Greece, with Mozhdah Jamalzadah, Leen Alam and Niloufar Koukhani. The role of Sima does not appear to be cast yet. Sounds like a counter-point argument will be made by Sadat. The project was supported by the Eurimages fund back in March ’22.

The aim is to shot this year and begin editing in the first quarter of 2023. Could a possible Venice and Toronto Film Festival (plus Busan) berth be in the cards? Roya Film House and Spain’s Alba Sotorra Cinema Productions are producing. Homemade Films’ Maria Drandaki would also be a partner.

Written by Sadat and Aziz Deildar, set in pre-civil war Afghanistan, the childhood friendship of Suraya (21, communist, wealthy) and Sima (20, conservative, humble Muslim) is broken when Sima’s brother is arrested and killed by the communist party in which Suraya participates. Driven by a thirst for revenge, Sima emigrates to Pakistan and joins the mujahideen forces to fight against communism, while Suraya climbs higher inside the Party. Months later, they meet again in prison, victims of a failed mission and a conspiracy, respectively. Together, they manage to escape, and discover that their friendship is stronger than any of the political interests that have separated them.