ABOUT THE FILM
THE WATCH OR THE TIME
The Watch or the Time is an uncomfortably honest look behind the lives of seven ‘Kabulians’ and their lived experience from the longest war zone in modern history.
Drawing on over 100 hours of footage filmed over seven years at the height of the Afghanistan war, The Watch or the Time tells the stories of foreigners grappling with what they’ve left behind, Afghans struggling to make sense of the dramatic shift in their fates, whilst others celebrate the Taliban’s win. As America and its allies try to wash their hands of responsibility in Afghanistan, The Watch or the Time puts it front and centre again. This film presents the perspectives and ultimately asks, was it all worth it?
THE STORY
“You have the watches, we have the time,” a Taliban fighter infamously warned an American in Afghanistan. It was ominously accurate. The fighter is said to have borrowed the phrase from an Afghan proverb, and his foretelling played out as he sensed – the United States had an eye on the clock and a foot out the door, whereas the Taliban was never going to leave.
Years earlier, America had swiftly ousted a flailing Taliban government in Afghanistan, pledging to rebuild the embattled country. Dozens of nations joined ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’, and for two decades foreign armies poured into Afghanistan along with eye-watering amounts of foreign aid. Yet now the Taliban is back in charge with more power and more territory than ever. What went so wrong?
WHY NOW?
The Watch Or The Time explores America and its allies’ ill-fated offensive in Afghanistan told by the foreigners and Afghans who lived it. It tracks the arc of America’s longest war in modern history with these personal experiences, looking at the pitfalls of military intervention and humanitarian aid through the legacy of the West’s efforts in Afghanistan.
Did the thousands of foreigners who participated in Afghanistan’s “nation building” foresee a Taliban victory? What did they witness during the critical “surge” years? And what is the price of the so-called peace in Afghanistan today? The Watch Or The Time probes questions like these in an effort to learn from the mistakes made.
THE 'KABULIANS'
You’ll meet a German armoured car salesman, an American sports trainer and women’s rights activist, a Canadian NATO psychological operations specialist, an Australian war photographer, an Afghan female graffiti artist from the Taliban heartland, an Afghan female University student, a local media producer dubbed Afghanistan’s Number 1 fixer, and a Taliban commander.
It’s their personal stories told through over 100 hours of interviews and footage recorded in Afghanistan at the height of the foreign troops and humanitarian presence.
We explore their motivations, fears and regrets. You’ll see foreigners grapple with what they’ve left behind, Afghans struggle to make sense of the dramatic shift in their fates, while others celebrate the Taliban’s win.
YOU
As America and its allies try to wash their hands of responsibility in Afghanistan, The Watch Or The Time puts it front and centre again. This film presents the perspectives and ultimately asks, Was it worth all it? You decide.
YOU
As America and its allies try to wash their hands of responsibility in Afghanistan, The Watch Or The Time puts it front and centre again. This film presents the perspectives and ultimately asks, Was it worth all it? You decide.
YOU
As America and its allies try to wash their hands of responsibility in Afghanistan, The Watch Or The Time puts it front and centre again. This film presents the perspectives and ultimately asks, was it worth all it? You decide.