Austria

Born Susanne Schüller in Vienna in 1927, the Jewish painter Soshana fled the Nazi regime at the age of eleven. Exiled to the United States, she met the painter Beys Afroyim, who first became her mentor and later her husband. Under the name Soshana, she emerged as a major figure in modernist painting, creating portraits of famous exiles such as Thomas Mann, Otto Klemperer, and Franz Werfel. In the 1950s, she returned to Europe, where she associated with artists like Alberto Giacometti and Pablo Picasso. Her politically charged works reflect the turmoil of her time: totalitarian regimes, conflicts in the Middle East, and the war in former Yugoslavia. Soshana’s life makes her an important witness to the 20th century. The documentary commemorates her by sharing her ideas of respect, openness to the world, and coexistence among all human beings, regardless of their origin, religion, or skin color.

This documentary portrays Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria whow was dismissed by the Taliban after their takeover in 2021. Despite this, she remained in Europe under risky circumstances to oppose the recognition of their regime. She embodies resistance, and advocates for the rights of Afghan women and girls, who have been deprived of education and freedom.