The Land of the Enlightened

"How children master their lives in war-torn Afghanistan by engaging in ingenious commerce."

Mar 16 2016 N/A 1h 27m
Documentary, Drama, War

A group of Kuchi children are living in a minefield around Bagram airfield, Afghanistan. They dig out anti-personal mines in order to sell the explosives to child workers mining in a Lappis Lazulli mine. The trajectory of the blue precious stones goes towards Tajikistan and China, through an area controlled by child soldiers. When they are not waging their own mini-wars in the daily madness of life in Afghanistan, the children are fleeing away in their personal fantasies and dreams, while the American soldiers are planning their retreat...

Plot

A gang of Afghan kids from the Kuchi tribe dig out old Soviet mines and sell the explosives to children working in a lapis lazuli mine. When not dreaming of the time when American troops finally withdraw from their land, another gang of children keeps tight control on the caravans smuggling the blue gemstones through the arid mountains of Pamir.

Written by

Pieter-Jan De Pue, David Dusa, Herwig Deweerdt

Directed by

Pieter-Jan De Pue

Cast

Gholam Nasir, Khyrgyz Baj, Noor

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Belgium, Netherlands, Afghanistan, Germany, Ireland

Production Companies

Submarine, Fastnet Films, Savage Film, Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion, Prime, Eyeworks, Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland (IKON), Canvas, Sciapode, ZDF/Arte

Languages

English

Awards

2 wins & 11 nominations

Trailers
The Land of the Enlightened Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Documentary HD
Scores
# of Votes
645
Average Rating
7.1 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA