"17 years after the Taliban fell, Afghanistan is still one of the worst places in the world to be born a girl."

These are the opening lines of this hopeful short documentary from 2019 about the work of the non-profit NGO Skateistan in Afghanistan. Among other things, the organization managed a school in Kabul, and the documentary is quite good at showing the hopes and dreams these girls have for their future.

Unfortunately, the movie takes on a much more bitter note when you watch it in 2024. Because, as we all know, the Taliban are back. The schools of Skateistan are closed, and the girls are as oppressed as before. Knowing this, “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)” is a lot harder to stomach, but that ultimately doesn't make it any less important. The work of the organization was essential; one can only hope that the girls in the film will someday be able to achieve their dreams.