The Egyptian director was granted access to follow and film two Taliban military figures for a full year, beginning just days after the West's retreat from Afghanistan. The result is this remarkable documentary.
Criticism concerning what the documentary DOESN'T cover misses the point. Within the limitations imposed by his hosts (who threatened to kill him if they didn't approve of how he was filming) Nash'at captured fascinating sequences of the Islamic extremists on and off duty.
Although there are comic moments (including when the Taliban reveal an inability to perform a simple multiplication operation in their heads), the overall effect is chilling. The complete subjugation of females and the casual cruelty to which children are exposed add to the grim tenor of the film.
Anyone with any interest in history or international relations shouldn't miss this rare opportunity to pierce the veil surrounding this most barbaric of cultures, especially in light of the stated intention of those depicted to export their poisonous ideology by force of arms.
