Where the Light Shines

It takes Sajjad and Alishah four hours to climb the Bamyan peaks behind their village carrying their skis, and just four minutes to glide to the bottom again, as their families and neighbours look on incredulously. Yet when they get a chance to compete to qualify for the Winter Olympics in South Korea, the first time Afghanistan is represented in the sport, in their wake they leave hope for a brighter future, as local children strap wood to their feet and tumble down the snowy banks in imitation. Filmed over four years, Where the Light Shines paints an uplifting and refreshing portrait of Afghanistan as you haven't seen it before, as the two sportsmen face up to the difficulties of creating opportunities in a country that for generations has only seen war.