To many, Hassan Samedi’s work might not appear very dangerous, but the now-fallen government of Afghanistan viewed it as a lethal threat—and the Taliban’s recent return to power is likely to further curtail freedom of expression and the ability to speak out against corruption. As a political cartoonist, Samedi criticizes the absurdities and contradictions of the state. This short film, made in 2010, explores Samedi’s bold work and hears about the consequences he has faced for exercising freedom of expression in Afghanistan—dangers that have only intensified today.

The film is also available on Vimeo.