Watch What Tomorrow Brings

What Tomorrow Brings is a heartwarming documentary that follows the journey of the first girls’ school in a remote Afghan village. The film was released in 2015 and directed by Beth Murphy. The story takes place in a small village in Afghanistan called Deh’Subz, where girls have been deprived of education for many years. The Taliban regime in the past had imposed strict laws against educating women and girls. However, since the regime change and the arrival of the American troops, the situation has improved slightly. Nevertheless, girls are still not allowed to go to school beyond the elementary level, and the nearest secondary school is miles away.

Enter Razia Jan, a visionary woman who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and managed to rebuild her life in the United States. She now runs a successful business there and has decided to give something back to her homeland by building a free school for girls in Deh’Subz, with the help of her own funds and donations from her friends and colleagues.

The film follows the challenges faced by Razia and her team as they try to construct the school building from scratch, educate the girls, and convince the conservative families to send their daughters to school. The filmmakers captured the daily struggles of the girls and their families as they slowly adapt to the idea of sending their daughters to school, breaking centuries-old traditions and norms.

The film is a poignant portrayal of the power of education, as it follows the young girls as they battle illiteracy, poverty, and sexism to achieve their dreams. The school provides a safe and nurturing environment for the girls, who are from diverse ethnic backgrounds and come from families with different socio-economic statuses.

Through the eyes of the girls and their families, we see the transformative power of education, as they share their hopes and aspirations for a better future. The girls speak candidly about their dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, and architects, a rare occurrence in a society where women are often relegated to the domestic sphere.

The film also highlights the cultural barriers to education for girls, as it showcases the resistance faced by Razia and her team from the conservative community leaders and the male members of the girls’ families. However, as time passes, we see the attitude of the community towards education begin to shift, as more girls join the school, and the village elders start supporting the initiative.

What Tomorrow Brings is a powerful documentary that showcases how education can be a catalyst for change, even in the most challenging circumstances. The film gives voice to the girls and their families, who are often overlooked in mainstream media and politics, and demonstrates the importance of empowering women and girls through education.

Overall, What Tomorrow Brings is a compelling and heartwarming documentary that showcases the transformative power of education in a society plagued by poverty, sexism, and entrenched traditions. The film has been widely praised for its honest and nuanced portrayal of the struggles faced by the girls and their families, and its authentic representation of Afghanistan and its people. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in issues related to women’s education, gender equality, and social justice.

What Tomorrow Brings is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.