i was so excited to discover these films. my family had many photographs, but we lost them when we fled the afghan wars as refugees. most afghans have no pictures of their past. nothing to show their grandchildren. it is a terrible gap in our lives. these films, kept safe for half a century, are the only ones i have ever seen that have survived the wars. they show my afghanistan to me, the real one. a land full of life and hope. they tell a special chapter of our story that s almost forgotten. half a century ago, an american, glenn r foster, from california arrived in southern afghanistan. he stayed on for seven years, a keen photographer in black and white and marvellous colour. glenn took his 16mm film camera through kandahar and helmand. he toured through villages and deserts. sometimes, hejust let the camera run. people chatter. horses gallop. foster s family kept the films in a trunk at home, and they kept a reel of tape, noting his impressions as plain as the day he r
ever have them again. for me, this is a diamond. reminds me of my childhood. and the golden time. i was so excited to discover these films. my family had many photographs, but we lost them when we fled the afghan wars as refugees. most afghans have no pictures of their past. nothing to show their grandchildren. it is a terrible gap in our lives. these films, kept safe for half a century, are the only ones i have ever seen that have survived the wars. they show my afghanistan to me, the real one. a land full of life and hope. they tell a special chapter of our story that s almost forgotten. half a century ago, an american, glenn r foster, from california arrived in southern afghanistan. he stayed on for seven years, a keen photographer in black and white and marvellous colour. glenn took his 16mm film camera through kandahar and helmand. he toured through villages and deserts. sometimes, hejust let the camera run. people chatter. horses gallop. foster s family kept the films
now on bbc news, afghanistan: back to the future. this is precious. i love this sweet. and ijust ate half of it and kept another half because i thought i will never, ever have them again. for me, this is a diamond. reminds me of my childhood. and the golden time. i was so excited to discover these films. my family had many photographs, but we lost them when we fled the afghan wars as refugees. most afghans have no pictures of their past. nothing to show their grandchildren. it is a terrible gap in our lives. these films, kept safe for half a century, are the only ones i have ever seen that have survived the wars. they show my afghanistan to me, the real one. a land full of life and hope. they tell a special chapter of our story that s almost forgotten. half a century ago, an american, glenn r foster, from california arrived in southern afghanistan. he stayed on for seven years, a keen photographer in black and white and marvellous colour. glenn took his 16mm film camera thr
in sydney and melbourne. now on bbc news. afghanistan back to the future. 60 years ago, life in afghanistan was very different to the battleground it s become in recent decades. america s relationship with the country was also very different as can be seen from a remarkable treasure trove of films, shot in the 19505 by american glenn foster, and his afghan assistant, hajji mehta buddin. saeeda mahmood, born and brought up in southern afghanistan, explores and introduces the films. this is precious. i love this sweet. and ijust ate half of it and kept another half because i thought i will never, ever have them again. for me, this is a diamond. reminds me of my childhood. and the golden time. i was so excited to discover these films. my family had many photographs, but we lost them when we fled the afghan wars as refugees. most afghans have no pictures of their past. nothing to show their grandchildren. it is a terrible gap in our lives. these films, kept safe for half a cent
years ago, life in afghanistan was very different to the battleground it s become in recent decades, as can be seen from a remarkable treasure trove of films shot in the 19505. treasure trove of films shot in the 1950s. 0ur reporter, who was born in southern afghanistan, has been exploring the films. this is precious. i love this sweet. and ijust ate half of it and kept another half because i thought i will never, ever have them again. for me, this is a diamond. reminds me of my childhood. and the golden time. i was so excited to discover these films. my family had many photographs, but we lost them when we fled the afghan wars as refugees. most afghans have no pictures of their past. nothing to show their grandchildren. it is a terrible gap in our lives. these films, kept safe for half a century, are the only ones i have ever seen that have survived the wars. they show my afghanistan to me, the real one. a land full of life and hope. they tell a special chapter of our stor