Nadia is the biographical documentary of Nadia Nadim, a woman who fled Afghanistan with her mother and siblings when she was eight years old. The Taliban executed her father, a general in the national army, and her mother feared they would then come for the family. She took her children out of the country in the middle of the night, carrying only personal items.
They crossed into Pakistan near Peshawar using forged passports. Nadim and her family then flew to Italy and, from there, were hidden in a freight truck meant to take them to England. However, the ride ended in Denmark, where they landed in a refugee camp. They eventually settled there in Denmark. Having survived the escape from Afghanistan, Nadim focused on her life ahead. She grew up with a passion for soccer, which led to her success as an international sports star.
At the point where the viewer meets her in this film, she has decided to return to Afghanistan to try to reclaim the mementos of her father. She believes his military medals and other gear may have been hidden away by an aunt after she left, and she wants to retrace those steps and find the only remaining artifacts of her life in Afghanistan.
This plan was set before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and while it would have been incredibly risky at that time, now that the Taliban has complete control of the country, it is impossible. Nadim would be arrested immediately and likely executed. Even before the U.S. withdrawal, her family and contacts in Afghanistan warned her that it was a bad idea. She was going to be escorted by a security team, and no one’s safety was assured. She defers her plans but still wants to return someday.
“…Nadia Nadim fled Afghanistan with her mother and siblings when she was eight…”
As we get to know Nadim, we learn that she is a powerful force of nature, determined to get on with her life. She became a star player for the national team of her adopted country, Denmark, and then for the Paris Saint-Germain Women’s team. She’s played for many teams along the way, and in 2024, she signed with AC Milan.
As well as pursuing her soccer career, Nadim attended medical school and is now also a doctor, with plans to become a surgeon. Over the course of her life, she’s become fluent in eight languages. She intends to use her medical skills and notoriety to help others in need abroad, working with NGOs that support Women, education, and refugee children.
As we follow along with Nadim in the film while she makes life plans and lays out her intention to return to her home country, it’s clear that despite (or perhaps because of) the challenges she’s faced, she’s a hopeful, dynamic person who is full of affection for others and feels intense joy in her life. Every gathering with her immediate family and extended family of Afghan expats is alive with laughter and dancing.
Nadia is directed sharply by Anissa Bonnefont, who also co-wrote scripted segments with Edith Chapin. The film moves with the same purpose that Nadim does. Bonnefont lays out the story succinctly, with no wasted motion. We see shots of Nadim playing soccer, as well as coaching young girls to play. The camera work and editing create dynamic energy, making it easy to get caught up in Nadim’s story. You get the feeling that if your party was dragging when Nadim arrived, she’d be your DJ and get the energy up. This film is that same kind of electric jump-start vision of the life of an extraordinary individual. It’s clear that Nadim is just getting started.
For more information about Nadia, visit the Indie Pix Film website.
"…Nadia has decided to return to Afghanistan to try to reclaim mementos of her father"
