{
  "id": 17042906,
  "title": "Hills and mountains",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/hills-and-mountains",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-29T10:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Aeon",
    "slug": "aeon",
    "url": "https://aeon.co/videos/an-afghan-woman-recalls-how-her-countrys-devastation-led-to-her-own"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Directed by Salar Pashtoonyar, a filmmaker of Afghan descent, the documentary \"Hills and Mountains\" chronicles the profound impact of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The narrative is presented from the viewpoint of a woman whose identity has been safeguarded through the use of a voice actor and the alteration of certain aspects of her life. Born in 1969, she recounts witnessing the once peaceful and tolerant nation transform into a place where parents hastily married off their teenage daughters to ensure their survival.\n\nPashtoonyar's film is complemented by breathtaking visuals of the mountainous terrain, creating a visual tapestry that intertwines the landscape with the personal stories of its inhabitants. The journey begins with 14-year-old Asal, whose engagement is met with mixed reactions from her relatives. As the story unfolds, it explores the pivotal moment when a teen girl defies societal norms by foregoing a hijab at a family gathering, symbolizing a defiant act of resistance against the encroaching Taliban.\n\nAmidst the backdrop of cultural change, resilience shines through in the form of a Tajik teacher who ingeniously constructs a hydroelectric station using materials salvaged from Soviet remnants. His determination to provide energy to his community showcases the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.\n\nThe documentary also delves into the personal experiences of a reporter, orphaned during night raids in Afghanistan, who chronicles the grim legacy of the occupying forces. Set against the harsh realities of survival, Maikhuu's quest for promise and peril on Mongolia's \"coal highway\" underscores the complex realities faced by individuals navigating political upheaval and personal loss. Through these diverse narratives, \"Hills and Mountains\" paints a poignant portrait of Afghanistan's changing landscape, intertwining the beauty of the mountains with the complex intersections of lived experience, cultural shifts, and global history.",
  "summary": "A girl’s story of forced marriage reveals how the Soviet invasion of 1979 transformed life in Afghanistan - by Aeon Video Watch on Aeon",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}