The Beast Film Guide

June 1, 2013

This film guide focuses on the concept of Pakhtunali—the “code of honor” of Pashtun culture—as depicted in the 1988 film The Beast, a story set amidst the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989). The Beast depicts several themes concerning religion and conflict that are just as relevant today as they were thirty years ago, including hostility to religion, suspicion of cultural differences and those who sympathize with those differences, forgiveness, and revenge. This guide consists of a synopsis of the film, a section on the historical context of the events depicted therein, a list of key terms, discussion questions, and transcripts of important scenes of particular relevance to the topic of Pakhtunali.

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