‘Jirga’ is described as 'a modern morality tale' about a former Australian soldier, Mike, who returns to Afghanistan to apologise to the family of an unarmed civilian he killed in the heat of the battle.
The film centres around an Australian soldier who killed an innocent civilian while on deployment in the Afghan city of Kandahar. He returns to Afghanistan to make up for his mistake - and faces the traditional 'Jirga' justice system.
"This film was inspired by the people of Afghanistan,” Gilmour says. “The Muslims who live there who are beautiful people, very hospitable, kind, intelligent, dignified people who really inspire me on my previous visits to the country. This film is dedicated to them.”
Benjamin Gilmour says the film was mainly made in response to the ongoing 17-year war that we're in that country - the failed stabilisation strategies in Afghanistan that have relied on troop deployments there seemingly as the only dial in the engine room. Really what we need to be doing is going in there unarmed with humility and respect for the locals, ready to listen to what they want for their country."
It's important to remember, he adds, that Muslims are the greatest victims of Islamic extremism in their countries, dying in far greater numbers than any Westerners ever are.
"We need to have a solidarity with them, we need to support them and not malign them for their faith. Really these people living so far away are just like us - they want security and peace."
Please listen to the exclusive interview with film director Benjamin Gilmour and actor Sam Smith.
