Afghan Luke
Afghan Luke | |
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![]() Poster | |
Directed by | Mike Clattenburg |
Written by | Patrick Graham Douglas Bell Mike Clattenburg Barrie Dunn |
Produced by | Barrie Dunn Michael Volpe Mike Clattenburg |
Starring | Nick Stahl Nicolas Wright Stephen Lobo Vik Sahay |
Cinematography | Jeremy Benning |
Edited by | Roger Matiussi |
Music by | Blain Morris |
Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Afghan Luke is a 2011 Canadian war drama film directed by Mike Clattenburg.[1] The central character, Luke Benning (Nick Stahl), is a journalist investigating the possible mutilation (by Canadian snipers) of corpses in Afghanistan, a country that appears increasingly incomprehensible and surreal as Luke undergoes a series of bizarre adventures.
Plot[]
Disheartened when his story about Canadian snipers possibly mutilating corpses in Afghanistan is buried, Luke (Nick Stahl) quits his job but is even more determined to return to Afghanistan to get the real story. With his offbeat buddy, Tom (Nicolas Wright), tagging along, Luke returns to Afghanistan and intends to gather enough evidence to get his old story into print. But he soon finds that the country is an even more dangerous place than when he left. To make matters worse, his old friend and fixer, Mateen (Stephen Lobo) has been hired away by Luke's journalistic nemesis, Imran Sahar (Vik Sahay). Soon the trip for Luke and Tom in Afghanistan turns into a surreal and perilous adventure, a journey into an alternate reality, filtered through a haze of gun smoke. They encounter Taliban raids, bombings and unfinished business with an Afghanistan businessman. Luke still makes his way through the wilderness with Canadian troops and Arabian guides to find out if his story is true or not. In the end, he realises that the rumour about Canadians mutilating fingers is a lie and that his people still have some morality in this war torn land. Just as he is about to leave, He and Sgt. Rick (a Canadian soldier who is the leader of the squad with whom he had been travelling) come under fire from a Taliban sniper, but the Taliban runs out of bullets and walks off, while Luke thinks he killed him. While they move back to the base, Luke runs into Matteen, where he finds out that they really do share a friendship. The last scene is where Luke decides to go home.
Cast[]
- Nick Stahl as Luke
- Nicolas Wright as Tom
- Stephen Lobo as Mateen
- Vik Sahay as Imran Sahar
- Pascale Hutton as Elita
- Steve Cochrane as Sergeant Rick Cahoon
- Torrance Coombs as Private Davey
- Ali Liebert as Miss Freedom
- Colin Cunningham as Lieutenant Christer
- Parm Soor as Ustad Mir
- Ron Lea as Mark
- Lewis Black as Lewis Black
Nomination[]
The film was nominated for a Writers Guild of Canada 2012 Screenwriting Award[2] and has appeared at the Shanghai International Film Festival,[3] the Toronto International Film Festival,[4] Cinéfest,[5] and the Atlantic Film Festival.[6][7][8]
References[]
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 82. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- ^ "Complete List of Finalists for the 2012 WGC Screenwriting Awards". Chinokino.com. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
- ^ "THE 15TH SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL". Siff.com. 2011-05-30. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ TIFF. "2011 Films - Afghan Luke". tiff.net. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ "Afghan Luke review". Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ "Afghan Luke | Atlantic Film Festival". Atlanticfilm.com. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ "Atlantic Film Festival Press Kit | Atlantic Film Festival". Atlanticfilm.com. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ "Afghan Luke review". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
External links[]
- Afghan Luke at IMDb
- English-language films
- 2011 films
- Canadian films
- 2011 war drama films
- Canadian war drama films
- Films about war correspondents
- Films about war crimes
- War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) films
- Films set in Afghanistan
- Films shot in British Columbia
- Films shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Films directed by Mike Clattenburg
- 2011 drama films