5 Films to Understand the Conflict in Afghanistan

Since the beginning of the 21st century, when the world shook with the attacks of September 11, 2001, perpetrated by the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, the film industry turned its attention to the Middle East. The Audiovisual world was responsible for producing films, series and documentaries to address the atrocity of the war against the Taliban, a extremist group that assumed power in the Asian nation after the departure of US troops.

This fact attracted international attention due to the extremist ideals that govern Afghanistan today and that put the stability of the nation and the security of its inhabitants at risk ,who flee the country in search of refuge fearful of what may happen. This problem has disturbed the world, so it is important to list a list of film productions to understand the conflict in Afghanistan.

Charlie Wilson's War

This film directed by acclaimed German filmmaker Mike Nichols was released in 2007 and tells the story of an American congressman (Tom Hanks), who managed to finance the CIA to support Afghanistan in its fight against the Soviet Union, supplying weapons and equipping rebel groups that fueled the rise of the Taliban. The film focuses on the self-criticism of a country victim of its own invention with a luxurious cast in which Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman stand out.

This film is vital to know the origin of the Taliban and understand the conflict in Afghanistan.

The Swallows of Kabul

It is an animated film directed by French filmmaker Zabou Breitman, adapted from the novel by Yasmina Khadra. It is a sad and heartbreaking story that narrates the harassment to which the Afghan people were subjected during the first term of the Taliban (1996-2001) , especially the harsh circumstances that women from that country had to face, marginalized as an instrument of reproduction under the shadow of the Burka.

This film is key to understanding the radical ideology of those who rule Afghanistan today.

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Restrepo

This 2010 war documentary directed by the American filmmaker Sebastian Junger and the murdered photojournalist Timothy Hetherington, focuses on showing the reality of the American soldiers who fought in Afghanistan. The film deals with the tragic consequences of the invasion, the death of soldiers and civilians, and the psychological traumas experienced by the combatants as a result of the war.

The film was awarded at the Sundance Film Festival and is crucial to understanding the suffering of the Afghan soldiers and people.

Kandahar Journals

This documentary released in 2015 and directed by Devin Gallagher and photographer Louie Palu recounts the experiences of the Canadian photojournalist on the Kandahar front line, southern Afghanistan. The film offers a macabre perspective on the war and questions its purpose due to the crudeness and absurdity that results from its diaries written between 2006 and 2010.

The film objectively addresses the barbarity of the conflict in the Asian nation.

Homeland

It is a series of eight seasons with high doses of action and suspense that tells the story of Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) a CIA agent who faces different terrorist threats. Although the series has fictional elements, its sobriety stands out in the setting of the conflict in Afghanistan, especially in seasons four and eight, which take place in Kabul .

The series introduces the viewer to the threat of the Taliban and gives an idea of what would happen when US troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan.

These audiovisual productions can be seen on streaming platforms and help viewers understand the tragedy experienced by the Afghan people subjected for years to the harshness of war.