The Boy Mir: Ten Years in Afghanistan

British filmmaker Phil Grabsky's 2004 documentary The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan focused on an eight-year-old named Mir whose family lived in caves in a cliff that once held massive Buddha stone sculptures that were destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001. The Boy Mir picks up with Mir's life, following Mir and his family over a 10-year stretch, concluding in 2011 when he reaches the age of 18. As the documentary begins, Mir is both a typically playful boy and an uncommonly articulate symbol of Afghanistan's woes—voluntarily putting his education on hold to help his family with farming, since being fed takes priority over being schooled. In his teen years, Mir turns more serious, working at a coal mine and saving money (along with a supportive older half-brother) to buy a bicycle and then a motorcycle. Mir, his family, and his neighbors also engage in a universal passion for the first time when a newly purchased electric generator allows for the introduction of television viewing to the Bamiyan community. While the military conflict is a constant threat—U.S. helicopters fly by throughout the film, and a military unit drives through briefly—Grabsky keeps his focus on the daily local struggles faced by Mir and those around him. An intelligent and deeply moving film that pays respectful attention to the people of Afghanistan, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)