Watch The Prince of Nothingwood

The Prince of Nothingwood is a French-made documentary film from 2017 that tells the remarkable story of Salim Shaheen, who is known to be “The Ed Wood of Afghanistan.” He is a very popular home-grown filmmaker who has directed and acted in more than 100 films in Afghanistan, all independently produced and distributed in makeshift theatres in the country's remote villages.

Shaheen, who is now in his fifties, is considered one of the most successful actors and filmmakers from Afghanistan. He has developed a cult following among Afghans for his unrestrained, thrilling, and low-budget films, which are all made without real scripting, actors or special effects. In his various roles, he has fought terrorists, become a spy, a doctor, a cowboy, a gang member, or even directed himself as a starship captain.

The film takes the viewer into the world of Shaheen, a Pashtun man from eastern Afghanistan who grew up in a poor family, and had to work various jobs as a child. However, he always dreamt of becoming a movie star. At the age of 13, he started acting in local plays which later led him to establish his own theater group. As the audience of his play started to grow, he then decided to carry his dreams to the big screen, where he became One of the most successful and popular actors and filmmakers of Afghanistan.

The Prince of Nothingwood furthermore showcases Shaheen's journey from his hometown in eastern Afghanistan to different parts of the country, along with his loyal team of actors and crew, traveling with his caravan of troupe to make his movies. The film takes its viewers to the numerous villages where Shaheen's films have made it to the big screen, in makeshift cinemas showing his films to the locals. We see Shaheen being greeted with cheers and standing ovations from the rural masses who adore him and his work.

The documentary is directed by French journalist Sonia Kronlund serving as a narrator during a portion of the film, who is fascinated by Shaheen's colourful world and manages to convey it to Western audiences with great sensitivity. The film provides not only a glimpse of Shaheen's life and ethos but also portrays an emotional snapshot of Afghanistan's people and their resilience against war and hardship.

Through the film, we get a sense that Shaheen has helped provide escapism from the hardships of life in war-torn Afghanistan. He himself claims that he promotes a message of “love, brotherhood, and peace” through his work. Kronlund, the director, is careful not to criticize, belittle or judge Shaheen's work or its aesthetics, but rather lets the audience decide whether his films can be categorized as “good” or “bad”. Instead, she captures the joy, energy, and passion that Shaheen brings to his films and the people who admire them.

Eventually, as Shaheen gets older and health issues arise, his future is put into question. But despite the constant danger of death from suicide bombings and kidnap by the Taliban while traveling with his actors and team, there seems to be no stopping this “nothingwood” hero, who is as vigorous and determined as ever.

In summary, The Prince of Nothingwood is an entertaining, well-crafted documentary film that provides an exclusive view of Afghanistan's cinema, nurtured amidst chaos and violence. It is an uplifting portrait of a passionate filmmaker, a tribute to his dedication and hard work, and an ode to the dream of the movies. A must-see film and a must-understand perspective on the resilience and humanity of Afghanistan.