Seamus Murphy's Documentary Chronicles Afghan Family's Struggles in Exile

Irish photojournalist and filmmaker Seamus Murphy is developing a feature documentary titled “The Beautiful and the Damned,” which tells the story of the Ba Deli family, an Afghan family forced to flee their war-torn homeland. The film is produced by BAFTA-winning Irish producer David Rane for Soilsiú Films, in collaboration with Catherine Siméon of Faites un voeu (France) and Heino Deckert of Ma.ja.de (Germany). Murphy is presenting the project at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, which runs from March 5 to 15, 2026.

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Murphy's connection to Afghanistan dates back to the 1990s when he began his career as a photojournalist amidst the civil war in Kabul. During this time, he met the Ba Deli family, who had already suffered significant losses due to the conflict. Two of their six sons had died, and another had lost a leg in a rocket attack. This personal connection motivated Murphy to document their lives, aiming to provide a more hopeful narrative amidst the chaos.

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In 2014, as U.S. troops prepared to withdraw from Afghanistan, Murphy produced a short film for Channel 4 that included the Ba Deli family, marking the beginning of his transition from short films to a feature-length documentary. The family’s journey continued as brothers Farhuddin and Farhad fled to Germany and Turkey, respectively. Farhad struggles to establish a stable household in Germany, facing discrimination, while Farhuddin awaits a citizenship interview in Turkey, knowing he risks death if returned to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has targeted him.

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Murphy's documentary aims to portray the Ba Deli family as relatable individuals rather than mere statistics. He emphasizes the emotional aspects of their lives, highlighting moments of joy such as marriages and childbirths, which contribute to a new generation of Afghans navigating their identity in exile. Murphy's extensive archive of photographs and videos will serve as a backdrop to the family's story, illustrating the profound changes in Afghan society over the past three decades.

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While Murphy's project seeks to humanize the refugee experience, there may be critiques regarding the representation of Afghan refugees in media. Some may argue that focusing on individual stories can overshadow systemic issues faced by larger groups of refugees, potentially leading to a narrow understanding of the complexities involved.

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Murphy has expressed his intent to create a documentary that resonates emotionally with viewers, stating, “I’m trying to portray them…as individuals that you sympathize with, and you get to know and you get to like. And you’re rooting for them.” This sentiment reflects his commitment to presenting the Ba Deli family's struggles and triumphs in a relatable manner.

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As “The Beautiful and the Damned” progresses, it will continue to explore the Ba Deli family's experiences and the broader implications of their story for millions of refugees worldwide. The documentary is expected to premiere following its presentation at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, potentially reaching a global audience and fostering greater empathy for displaced individuals.

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