Venue: Clayport Library
Dates: Thursday 25th March
Time: 7.45pm
Director Ian Olds / USA 2009 / 84 min
Certificate NC / In English
The compelling story of the relationships between Ajmal, an Afghan ‘fixer’ and the journalists by whom he is employed on short term risky assignments where results are everything. The difference between the chaotic reality of the war and the ordered, convention of the reports we receive is shocking and sometimes absurd to the point of black humour. As the story unfolds, ‘adventurism’ turns into a genuine life and death situation, revealing terrible truths about the relative value of life in political negotiations where the global media has the most power.
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Anonymous 
‘“Are they human?’’’ asks Ajmal’s father, this question that resonates throughout the whole film.
The bigger political picture is sewn together with stories and anecdotes from the people of Afghanistan and the journalists. This narration brings back the human element to what they are talking about; the way in which the US has used Afghanistan as a place to facilitate their own agenda.
The audience are told early on that Ajmal will be murdered, giving the development of his presentation from friend, son, fellow journalist to Fixer, ‘person to facilitate the gathering of news stories’, heightened significance. We can then see the danger of him being hired solely as Fixer, facilitating a ‘very important name in the newspapers’.
As the film concludes we can see Ajmal being stripped of his humanity by both the Afghanistan Government and the Taliban. It is at this point, when Ajmal Naqshbandi is used as a political symbol, that he looses his life.
Although the film highlights the dangers of forgetting the human element in both individuals and counties of people, it is also very aware of Film itself creating symbolism. It suggests, then, that the place for symbols is in Film -but that real life and the very Real situation in Afghanistan does not need a symbol. What I needs is to be perceived as nothing other than human.