By April MacIntyre Jul 28, 2009, 3:59 GMT
"This work is very dangerous. I bring one enemy to meet another." - Ajmal Naqshbandi
Ajmal Naqshbandi had become one of Afghanistan’s top “fixers” by age 24, working as an aide who helped foreign media gain access to government officials, ordinary citizens and armed rebels.
HBO has announced their acquisition and air date of the doc, directed by Ian Olds. The film was the winner of the Best New Documentary Filmmaker award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.
A journalist himself, Ajmal was hired by an Italian reporter to secure an interview with a top Taliban commander, but it turned out to be his final job, ending in a highly publicized kidnapping and murder.
HBO Documentary Films continues its summer series, presenting a provocative new special every Monday night at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) through Sept. 7. Other August presentations include: “Boy Interrupted” (Aug. 3); “The Nine Lives of Marion Barry” (Aug. 10); “Which Way Home” (Aug. 24); and “Youth Knows No Pain” (Aug. 31).
"Fixer: The Taking Of Ajmal Naqshbandi" tells the tragic story of this likable, young man who was caught in the crossfire, providing an unflinching look at the ongoing problems facing a troubled nation.
The film begins with the relationship between Naqshbandi, a young Afghan journalist, translator and coordinator, and one of his clients, Christian Parenti, an American journalist (and one of the film’s producers). Over the course of six months, their paths converge, and then separate.
Naqshbandi is subsequently kidnapped by Taliban forces, along with Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and Afghan driver Sayed Agha, who is immediately beheaded. As foreign powers increase pressure to bring a fast resolution to the kidnapping, the Afghan government bungles its response, leaving Naqshbandi’s family with mounting frustration. The Taliban release Mastrogiacomo after weeks in captivity, but Naqshbandi is later killed.
The documentary provides a harrowing inside look at today’s Afghanistan, where dissent and violence from both inside and outside forces continue to ravage the state. With the Taliban increasing its grip on the country, the government is riddled with corruption, and most of the people live in poverty. As a result, many Afghans question the competence of their leaders, not to mention the goodwill of the international community, while Ajmal’s family and friends are left wondering why a foreigner was set free, but a native Afghan was murdered.
The documentary debuts Monday, August 17 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT),on HBO.
Other HBO playdates: Aug. 20 (2:30 a.m.), 23 (4:00 p.m.), 25 (7:30 p.m.), 29 (11:00 a.m.) and 31 (10:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Aug. 19 (9:30 p.m.), 26 (4:30 a.m.) and 30 (5:30 p.m.), and Sept. 5 (8:00 a.m.)
Festival Screenings
* International Film Festival Rotterdam * True/False Film Festival (Sneak Preview) * Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Sneak Preview) * Tribeca Film Festival (Winner - Best New Documentary Filmmaker) * Hot Docs Film Festival * Documenta Madrid (Winner - First Prize of the Jury) * Pesaro Film Festival Italy (Winner - Special Jury Prize) * Munich Film Fesitival * Jerusalem International Film Festival * Dokufest Kosovo * Warsaw International Film Festival
Your Talkback on this Story