Mark Reviews Movies: JIRGA

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Review by Mark Dujsik | August 15, 2019

Shot on location in Afghanistan (which is a feat unto itself in the context of the ongoing war there), Jirga tells the story of an Australian man seeking forgiveness or, perhaps, a suitable punishment for what he did as a soldier in that country. Writer/director Benjamin Gilmour's intentions are pure, in that the movie gives a voice to the local people, even though the story's perspective is that of an outsider. Its overall message, too, is important, although the steps it takes to get there are sometimes questionable—especially during one lengthy passage.

The former soldier is Mike (Sam Smith), who arrives in Kabul three years after a raid in a small village resulted in him killing a man, who simply stepped into his doorway. Gilmour's early purpose seems to be show us the city, full of life and activity despite the sounds of explosions and gunfire in the distance, and the nearby countryside. This lengthy section is admirable as a form of visual testimony—not only to show what life is like in this current moment, but also as proof that Gilmour hasn't cheated in the authenticity of the filmmaking.

After spending time with his driver in the desert along the way toward the village, Mike has to escape from Taliban fighters. Stranded in the desert, he is soon captured and held as a hostage in a cave, where it seems as if his journey will end before he reaches his destination.

Here, perhaps, is where Gilmour's intentions get in the way of common sense. The Taliban soldiers come to admire Mike's mission, and he, in turn, accepts their help. It's too much, in terms of believability and extending an understanding eye toward these characters, especially since one of our first impressions of these men is witnessing them executing two other hostages.

Much of what's communicated here about the human toll of the war is important to hear, but since Mike eventually does reach the village, it's easy to argue that Gilmour has put those words in the wrong mouths. The final section of Jirga, a term meaning a council of elders who stand in judgment, sees only innocent lives, devastated by the war. Their voices matter, but with the movie's message already spoken, their role is reduced to listening and to making a final decision about Mike's fate.

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