Synopsis:
Rock the Kasbah follows the story of Richie Lanz, a down-on-his-luck music manager who discovers a teenage girl with an extraordinary voice during a music tour in Afghanistan. He takes her to Kabul to compete on the popular television show, Afghan Star.
Plot:
Rock the Kasbah is a musical comedy film directed by Barry Levinson and stars Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, and others.
Here's a brief summary of the plot:
Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) is a washed-up music manager who takes his last remaining client, a talented singer named Ronnie (Zooey Deschanel), on a USO tour to Afghanistan. However, things take an unexpected turn when Ronnie ditches Richie in Kabul.
Stranded and penniless, Richie discovers Salima Khan (Leem Lubany), a Pashtun teenager with an incredible voice. Inspired by her talent, Richie sets out to help Salima achieve her dream of participating in the Afghan version of the television show "Afghan Star," a singing competition.
Throughout the film, Richie encounters various challenges and cultural differences as he tries to navigate the Afghan music scene and support Salima in her pursuit of musical success. The film blends comedy, drama, and music against the backdrop of the unique cultural setting of Afghanistan.
Rock the Kasbah explores themes of redemption, cultural exchange, and the power of music to transcend boundaries. Bill Murray's performance adds humor and heart to the story as Richie attempts to make a difference in the lives of those he encounters in Kabul.
Director: Barry Levinson
Release Year: 2015
Genre: Comedy, Music, War
Top Cast:
- Bill Murray as Richie Lanz
- Kate Hudson as Merci
- Zooey Deschanel as Ronnie
- Danny McBride as Nick
- Scott Caan as Jake
- Leem Lubany as Salima
- Beejan Land as Daoud
- Eugenia Kuzmina as Gula
- Arian Moayed as Riza
- Bruce Willis as Bombay Brian
- Taylor Kinney as Private Barnes
- Glenn Fleshler as Army Warrant Office
- Sameer Ali Khan as Azam Ghol
- Fahim Fazli as Tariq
- Jonas Khan as Nizar
- Sarah Baker as Maureen
Box Office and Awards:
- Budget: $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross Worldwide: $3,394,174
Trivia:
- The story is loosely based on Setara Hussainzada, the first woman to compete on Afghanistan's popular talent show, Afghan Star.
- The film features scenes shot in Morocco, standing in for Afghanistan.
Conclusion:
Rock the Kasbah blends comedy, music, and a touch of war drama to create a distinctive narrative. While not a blockbuster, it stands out for its unconventional story inspired by real events.