Hollywoodgate
Ibrahim Nash'at / Germany & United States / 2023 / 91 min
A filmmaker makes a pact with the devil and risks his life to tag along when the Taliban take over an abandoned US military base in Afghanistan. An unforgettable and chilling insight into a radically alien mentality.
The day after the US withdraws from Afghanistan, the Taliban occupy the former CIA base Hollywoodgate in Kabul. It turns out to be a treasure trove. The Americans have left behind high-tech fighter jets, helicopters, weapons, medicine and valuable military equipment. Afghan fighters lick their lips as they inspect the abandoned base. Egyptian documentary filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at and his interpreter have made a deal with the devil. They will be let into the heart of the Taliban for a year, at the risk of their lives. The Taliban fighters barely tolerate his presence, joking that they will kill him if he makes them look stupid – which they manage to do very well on their own. Despite its almost surreal moments, it is still at their mercy that we experience the Taliban from the inside as they transition from extremist militia to a powerful military regime. A nerve-wracking and chilling experience with an unforgettable final scene.