SMILING IN A WARZONE

DC Premiere

SMILING IN A WAR ZONE is the remarkable story of Simone Aaberg Kaern, a free-spirited Danish artist who plans an improbable humanitarian mission to war-torn Afghanistan. There she hopes to meet with Farial, a young girl who dreams of becoming a pilot. This innocent wish reminds Simone of her childhood fascination with pioneering female pilots, which inspired both her artistic career and her eventual purchase of an aging Piper Cub airplane. She became an accomplished pilot and now revels in her newfound sense of freedom.

As an artist and pilot Simone feels strongly that the skies must remain free to all. She becomes increasingly troubled by airspace restrictions implemented in the aftermath of 9/11. Inspired by Farial's dreams of flight, she plots, along with co-filmmaker and partner Magnus Bejmar, a risky series of flights across Europe and the Middle East that will land her in Kabul.

She has no permission to fly over key areas on her itinerary, especially Afghanistan, which is strictly controlled by US Armed Forces. She is not even sure that the Piper will be able to achieve enough altitude to get over the mountain ranges dividing Iran and Afghanistan. But she boldly embarks on the trip anyway.

SMILING IN A WAR ZONE features stunning aerial footage that contrasts sharply with the earthly frustrations the two encounter on the way. Simone's audacity and indomitable spirit are something to behold as she holds fast to her quest to find young Farial and share with her the possibility of a brighter future.

Simone Aaberg Kaern and Magnus Bejmar in person.

-Paul Meyers

Sponsored by
The Danish Film Institute & The Danish Embassy

DIRECTOR BIOS
Simone Aaberg Kaern, a performance and video artist, has said "I have defined the air as my artistic field" and her work often includes the art of flying as a theme, as in TARANEH HEADING FOR THE STARS (2001), a dual screen video installation and short film about Iran's first female pilot. SMILING IN A WAR ZONE is her debut as a documentary film director.

Magnus Bejmar, a Swedish radio and TV journalist, has also worked as a director and writer for theater. SMILING IN A WAR ZONE is his debut as a documentary director. On the impact he hopes his film will have, he states "go out and see the world from above...smile a little, live life, stop complaining. You can be upset about the war...but do something...make a difference."

Print Source:
Anne Marie KŸrstein, Danish Film Institute
55 Gothersgade
Copenhagen K, DK-1123
Denmark
+45.2.173.1991
kurstein@dfi.dk

6/16 at 7:45 PM

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