The Land of the Enlightened (2016)

In the mesmerizing intersection of fiction and reality, "The Land of the Enlightened" embarks on an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking, yet battle-scarred landscapes of Afghanistan. This remarkable film is the product of seven years of director Pieter-Jan De Pue's dedication, captured on the timeless canvas of 16mm footage, casting an eerily beautiful and somber gaze into the legacy left for the country's next generation. Against the backdrop of the impending departure of American troops, we delve into the hidden corners of this war-weary land. Here, we find fearless young boys from the Kuchi tribe, who have formed audacious gangs to rule trade routes. They extract explosives from the remnants of old Soviet mines, peddling this deadly harvest to children laboring in a lapis lazuli mine, a disturbing testament to the resilience and adaptability born from survival. Their playgrounds are the rusting hulks of long-abandoned tanks, their games a grim echo of the warfare that has blighted their homeland. Yet, amidst the grit and struggle, we witness the extraordinary spirit and innovation of childhood. These children, while maintaining a tight grip on caravans smuggling the precious blue gemstones through the barren mountains of Pamir, dream of an era when their land is finally free from foreign troops. "The Land of the Enlightened" serves as a poignant cinematic tribute to the harsh beauty of a land and its people, who despite their circumstances, fight, dream, and endure. As they forge a new set of rules based on the stark reality they've inherited, we're left with a haunting reflection of a country's resilience and the unquenchable spirit of its youth.

The Land of the Enlightened is a documentary movie featuring Gholam Nasir and directed by Pieter-Jan De Pue.

The Land of the Enlightened is currently streaming on Netflix.