Kabul 24

On August 3, 2001, 24 people working for a faith-based charity located in Afghanistan were arrested. The 16 Afghans were beaten and tortured by the Taliban for allegedly converting to Christianity, but Kabul 24—directed by Ben Pearson and narrated by actor Jim Caviezel—focuses more on the eight international workers (from Germany, Australia, and the U.S.) who were held for 105 days before being released in Pakistan. The media reporting on the incident seemed to buy into the Taliban's argument that the members of Shelter Now International, which had been building schools in Afghanistan since 1984, were involved in proselytizing, but this documentary makes an interesting case that the workers were arrested peremptorily to be held as hostages by forces with foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks, which occurred on Day 50 of their captivity. Six years in the making, the film features interviews with the eight international captives and some of the Afghans involved (including the Afghan government's prosecutor, who early on became convinced of their innocence), along with tours of the prisons in which they were housed. DVD extras include extended scenes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Gardner)