This impressionistic documentary, based on footage originally shot in Afghanistan in 1971, provides a unique portrait of a people and culture that no longer exist. It features an original soundtrack by the world fusion musicians ‘Equa’.

'The Noon Gun' had its world premiere at the 53rd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2004, and its UK premiere at the National Media Museum (formerly the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television) in Bradford, in September 2004. It has featured as part of the 'Films From The South' Festival in Oslo, Norway, as well as the Portobello Film Festival in London. 'The Noon Gun' has been broadcast by Tolo TV, the most popular liberal TV station in Kabul, Afghanistan, and also by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service (the only service to broadcast inside the Bhutanese border), as well as being shortlisted, along with 6 other films, for The Satyajit Ray Foundation Short Film Competition in London. In 2008, with the support of the British Council, it had its Pakistani premiere as part of the World Performing Arts Festival in Lahore, Pakistan, and will be screened as part of “The Great Game: Aspects of Afghanistan” at the Tricycle Theatre in London May 2009.

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“Many years ago, the record producer Rupert Hine gave me a pair of candlesticks as a gesture of thanks for having, with Stephen Tayler, rescued his recording studio. His swimming pool pump had failed while he was on vacation, and dumped the contents of the pool into the basement studio. I seem to recall the water was about a foot high, and with all the electronics, the situation was critical, if not a little dangerous. Between Stephen and I, the studio was saved, the contents rescued, and disaster was pretty much averted. Hence the gift.” says Sadia.

“Not realising the candlesticks were lead crystal, I let a candle burn quite low, which resulted in the glass cracking. I set them aside, meaning to have them repaired, and logged this task on my list of things to do. Every New Year, as I copied out the remains of the old list into the new diary, I thought ‘I really must get those candlesticks repaired’. This went on for ten years.” ------>(next)

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produced by Sadia Sadia

edited by Sadia Sadia and Stephen W Tayler

sound design and mix by Stephen W Tayler

music by Equa

directed and filmed by Anthony Stern

THE NOON GUN trailer

IMDb entry

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