Jun. 08, 2018|Australia|78 Min.|n/A
Genre: Drama;War
Description: In 2018, the film *Jirga* tells a compelling story set in Afghanistan. The plot begins when the Australian army conducts a helicopter raid on a small village called Ghazi Ghar, searching for hidden Taliban soldiers. During the operation, a soldier named Mike fatally shoots an unarmed man standing at the doorway of his home. The man’s wife and children pull his body inside, leaving a lasting impact on Mike.
Three years later, Mike decides to return to Afghanistan to seek forgiveness from the victim’s family. He brings a significant amount of money as compensation. Upon arriving in Kabul, he contacts a man who had previously agreed to take him to the village. However, the man now refuses, citing the danger and urging Mike to return to Australia. To escape a street disturbance, Mike hides in a local shop, where he reluctantly buys a guitar.
Determined to reach Ghazi Ghar in Kandahar Province, Mike asks a hotel owner to arrange transport. The owner declines, explaining that Kandahar is Taliban-controlled territory. Instead, he arranges for a taxi driver to take Mike as far as Lake Band-e-Amir. At the lake, Mike tries to persuade the driver to continue to Kandahar, offering a large sum of money. The driver refuses, and their argument ends in frustration as they don’t share a common language. That evening, Mike plays his guitar, and the driver sings a Pashtun song. Mike teaches the driver to match the notes to the guitar strings, creating a moment of connection.
The film explores themes of guilt, redemption, and cultural understanding, capturing the complexities of human interactions in a volatile environment.
Cast director: Benjamin Gilmour
Cast actor: Sam Smith, Mohammad Mosam, Kefayat Lag Humani, Naqibullah Khan Shinwari, Sharif Ullah, Muhammad Shah Majroh, Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad, Samad Khan, Amir Shah Talash, Janaat Gul Mastana
Original name: Jirga