by Dan Berman (Guest Critic)

Director and Producer Christian Johnston takes the filmgoer into the heart of war with this sure to be controversial, timely, vengeful, and at times disturbing documentary September Tapes. This uncompromising film is shocking to your inner senses when it shows you one Filmmaker's determination to discover the truth behind the 9/11 attacks on America. The film is a look into a very troubled country that is not just in a conflict with the United States but collapsing within it’s own government.

Filmmaker/Journalist Don Larson goes too far in this sinister, gloomy film that Critics and audiences alike will remember in years to come. Don makes his way to Afghanistan to find the mystery behind Osama Bin Laden and to get answers. It occurred to me as I was watching the film, "why put your entire life in jeopardy like that." "Was it for America?" "The innocent people who fell to their death on the darkest day in American history?" So "what was the reason then?" It’s hard for me to understand all of his reasons behind such a risky and frightening mission. I really don’t know if I should be proud that a man of such bravery risked everything to get the hidden answers that lurked behind enemy lines. Or whether I should be furious at the sheer fact that he had to take that kind of chance with his own life? The film is an exploration into a Middle East where anger and conflict have made a long lasting home for itself.

The film is a guided tour into a world filled with chaos and tragedy where peace is nowhere in sight. During his time in the country, Larson develops eight recorded tapes that give you the inside look into war. As his time continues within Afghanistan he soon discovers it’s not going to be easy finding what he wants. On a couple of occasions, Don asks the wrong questions and reacts without any thought on his impression that he leaves in the process. The film takes you on his terrifying, near-suicidal mission to record and bring back footage of a failing country. Larson, at one point, gets himself thrown into an Afghanistan prison, where he was contained for twelve hours.

I began to wonder if Don Larson knew what he was heading into when shooting Footage behind the enemy barracks. Remember, this film was shot only six months after the collapse of the world trade center. Don only went into the country with an interpreter and a cameraman who tried to keep up with Don’s quick and sudden decision-making.

It’s only one of two documentaries that I know of that bring the viewer into the heart of a collapsing country. The Oscar nominated documentary film War Photographer is the only other film that recognizes and portrays war from within similarly dangerous territory.

September Tapes will make my top ten not because it was a great film, but because it was such a rare look into the conflict with Afghanistan and the lives that were lost everyday.

Dan Berman