Taliban territory, Afghanistan. Two American soldiers crash their helicopter and get lost in the middle of the desert. The meeting of a Caucasian officer who injured his leg and an African American soldier who has no injuries at all, starts off rough from the beginning. The African American soldier tries to run away alone, but the Caucasian officer threatens him with a gun, and they are forced to find a way to survive together. They discover an opium field by chance and meet an Afghanistan family who cultivates the opium field for a living. The strange co-habitation of the soldiers and the family who have to be hostile to each other yet who cannot totally hate each other begins. Director Siddiq Barmak explains [Opium War] is a story about ‘people from different cultures living and quarreling together, not knowing they are political scapegoats.’ Though the film deals with the topics of politics and war, violent human nature, and inevitable hostility, it still does not lose the laughter and humor between humans. Most of all, amateur actors’ vivid performances are the best parts of the film. (Jay SON)
