On the negative side is a not very strong dialogue, and the acting was obviously acting. Understandable in that this is an Afghan production where a history of film freedom & production is probably lacking. Amusingly obvious in street filming sequences where bystanders, with looks of uncertainty, stare at the camera as it films an actor in a scene.
Story is centered on a family having the courage to open a restaurant with a stage for poetry, other readings, and music. All under newly instilled Western style freedoms. The Taliban, as we all know, think these actions are prohibited according to their readings of the Qur'an.
The film shows us the new customs blending with the old traditions from rural areas where Taliban are plotting against the restaurant to a girl's school (8 girls, small but an important start) where the class discussion is of how cleanliness is supported by the Qur'an. A telling quote, "So you understand how common death has become in Afghanistan.", is behind the title "the black tulip" which refers to planes that carried the Soviet dead back home during their presence (1978 to 1989).
Interesting in the credits to see Sen.Feinstein (D) and former Sen. Kyl (R) and Anne Heche, amongst other notables, as sponsors. A personal aside, the Anti-American sentiment, to be expected, expressed by Taliban illustrates the care we should take with our military and political incursions around the world that involve Islam. That we do not become their lightning rod, principal antagonist. One simple step, to ameliorate that, would be to promote allowing the Palestinians their own country, and not an ever-decreasing sized reservation, analogous to what Native Americans faced.
