Susan B. Anthony once said that the bicycle has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. Creating a sense of mobility, movement but most importantly freedom, the bicycle has been a revolutionary vehicle for change throughout history. But in Afghanistan, the stakes are much higher for woman who cycle. While not technically illegal, riding a bicycle in Afghanistan is seen by many as a morality crime that could result in imprisonment or even the loss of life for women who dare to defy this belief. This extraordinary film tells the tale of a cycling group in Bamiyan, spearheaded by one woman who teaches girls to ride as a means of independent transportation and freedom and with dreams to compete nationally. Breaking through their often chaotic and painful daily existence, they find peace and independence in the mountainous province of Bamiyan as they cycle towards a changed and more independent culture for the women of Afghanistan. Heather Haynes
Co-presented with The Spark of Hope Foundation.
Silence Breakers program presented in partnership with OXFAM CANADA.