Jirga
Cast Sam Smith, Mohammad Mosam
◖78 minutes ◖Drama ◖M ◖A VL ◖In-seat and on the Qantas Entertainment App In this modern morality tale, a former Australian soldier, Mike Wheeler (Sam Smith), returns to Afghanistan to find the family of a civilian he accidentally killed during the war. Seeking forgiveness, he puts his life in the hands of the village justice system, the Jirga.
The movie is visually stunning and its gripping narrative, though simple, has complex implications. As we follow Mike’s journey from the overwhelming capital, Kabul, to a desolate, remote village in the company of a taxi driver (Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad) who speaks no English, we glean insights into the human cost of war for all sides. We see that money doesn’t always talk and the spoken word isn’t necessary to convey intent or emotions.
Unforgettable and powerful, this film was a passion project for writer and director Benjamin Gilmour, who bravely made it with a combination of his own savings and crowdfunding. It has paid off – Jirga was awarded the CinéfestOZ Film Prize in 2018 and is Australia’s entry for the Foreign Language Film Oscar.