In Afghanistan during Taliban rule, music was considered either disrespectful or sacrilegious. After 1996, it was declared a crime to dance, listen to music or watch television. Following the overthrow of the Taliban and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, producers at Tolo TV decide to organize the country’s first televised talent competition. They hope that AFGHAN STAR will provide much more than plain old entertainment, encouraging Afghans to turn away from violence and toward music. The producers travel the country, searching for new talent. They aim to have all ethnic groups represented on the show to embody the potential for a united Afghanistan. Havana Marking follows four finalists as they campaign around the country; they drive through villages and give impromptu concerts, sign autographs and persuade people to vote for them. The excitement is palpable and especially striking given the desolate and war-torn surroundings. People all over the country rush home or to the neighborhood television set to catch the latest episode. Cell phones blaze as people frantically vote by text message. The audience is treated to a wonderful show, filled with strobe lights and flashy outfits. Despite the country’s relative openness, there is resistance to AFGHAN STAR and all it represents. When one contestant breaks into an expressive dance onstage, her life is threatened. Nonetheless, the show is an enormous success. As a young boy says at the beginning of the film, “Someone can listen to music and his good mood will return.” AFGHAN STAR certainly attests to this.