Once a treasured luxury for the elite, Afghan cinemas are dilapidated and reflect an industry on the brink of collapse from conflict and financial neglect. Kabul's cinemas show Pakistani films in Pashto, American action films and Bollywood to rowdy, largely unemployed crowds in pursuit of any distraction from their drab surroundings.
A man sits on a motorbike outside Cinema Park in Kabul. Once a treasured luxury for the elite, Afghan cinemas are dilapidated and reflect an industry on the brink of collapse from conflict and financial neglect. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A cinema goer uses his mobile phone to take a photograph of a film poster at Cinema Pamir in Kabul. Once a treasured luxury for the elite, Afghan cinemas are dilapidated and reflect an industry on the brink of collapse from conflict and financial neglect. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Employees of Cinema Pamir sell refreshments during the movie interval in Kabul. Kabul's cinemas show Pakistani films in Pashto, American action films and Bollywood to rowdy, largely unemployed crowds in pursuit of any distraction from their drab surroundings. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Ahmad Wali, a 15-year-old projectionist, gets ready for school after a show at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Ahmad Wali, a 15-year-old projectionist, works inside the projection room at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A projectionist rewinds a roll of film inside the projection room at Cinema Pamir in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A projectionist rewinds a roll of film inside the projection room at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Ahmad Wali, a 15-year-old projectionist, works inside the projection room at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A projectionist rewinds a roll of film inside the projection room at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Cinema goers rush into the theater before a show at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
An employee of Cinema Pamir sells refreshments during the movie interval in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Cinema goers watch a Bollywood film at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A cinema goer watches a Pashto film at Cinema Pamir in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Cinema goers watch a Pashto film at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Cinema goers watch a Pashto film at Pamir Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A cinema goer watches a Bollywood film at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A Pashto film is screened at Cinema Pamir in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A cinema goer sleeps as others watch a Bollywood film at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A projectionist watches a Bollywood film from a projection room at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
A film can with a picture of a Bollywood movie is seen inside the storage room at Ariana Cinema in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
Employees of Ariana Cinema stand on film cans as they work inside a storage room in Kabul. (Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS)
to get it and come back to see the ad in front of this gallery.
