Secret Reading Club of Kabul
In Taliban‑ruled Afghanistan, a small circle of young women risks everything to meet in secret and read banned books – from Anne Frank’s Diary to Michelle Obama’s Becoming. Filming themselves with hidden phones, they reveal a life of defiance, humor, and friendship under constant threat. When “M” is hunted by a Taliban informant and forced to flee, her journey – and filmmaker Shakiba Adil’s support – links Kabul to exile. Even as repression tightens, their
“Secret Reading Club” survives online, proving the power of stories to unite, resist, and keep hope alive. A raw, intimate blend of covert phone footage and cinematic exile scenes. The film contrasts the grainy urgency of hidden diaries with the stillness and space of exile – capturing both fear and resilience.
