The Interpreters

The abandonment of crucial allies (e.g., Kurds) during and after wars is a recurring theme in U.S. military actions abroad. "The Interpreters" is an agonizing yet +occasionally uplifting documentary about America's mistreatment of brave Iraqi and Afghan citizens who acted, at great peril, as interpreters for U.S. forces during our wars in both countries. When their service comes to an end, they and their families are vulnerable to attack and murder. An impassioned push in Congress by the late Senator John McCain and others to help these interpreters flee the revenge of ISIS and the Taliban led to the creation of the Special Immigration Visa (SIV). Meant to cut through State Department red tape and speed up approval for these heroes to immigrate to the U.S., the SIV has proved a disaster. Filmmakers Andres Caballero and Sofian Khan focus on three individuals, once-vital friends to America, who are stuck in the mire of U.S. bureaucracy and foot-dragging. One, a heavy smoker who goes by the code name "Philip Morris," is a family man who shares a bond with a veteran determined to bring Morris to Minnesota. Malik also waits years for his SIV (which was supposed to take months). But the story of Mujtaba is the saddest and most infuriating. Feeling the Taliban getting close, he takes his family and pays a smuggler to get them all to Europe. A horrible tragedy that occurs during the effort changes the course of Mujtaba's life and forces a viewer of this film to consider where the blame lies. The heart of "The Interpreters" is Caballero and Khan's warm, human connection with these men, shedding light on a little-discussed aspect of our Forever Wars. Strongly recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (T. Keogh)