Beauty in Devastation - Afghanistan

Travelling with Medecin Sans Frontier, the artist has the opportunity to speak to thousands of Afghans clinging on to an existence in the devastated country.Through his films, photography, paintings and writing, Gittoe takes us on a journey through Afghanistan in the aftermath of the American attacks Portraying the suffering witnessed in refugee camps and by those injured and killed by landmines, his work is about "the individuals, the normal human beings that are mashed by the machine". Yet not all that he sees is pain and devastation. He discovers moments of beauty and light amongst the desolation of Afghanistan. His work documents the joyous spectacle of an Afghan wedding, with the crowds dancing and playing music around the happy bride. He is pleased to discover evidence of the "resilience of the human spirit". But Afghanistan's prospects seem bleak. "There's not an intelligent person in Afghanistan who doesn't believe that the country's on the verge of civil war." For him, the soldiers of each side are like young fighting dogs "heavily armed and ready to go once their masters let them off their leashes." This poignant film conveys a strong sense of the suffering of Afghanistan's people, whilst reminding us of the country's forgotten beauty.

Produced by SBS/Dateline
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Beauty
• Art
• Afghanistan
• War
• Sanctions
• Medecin
• Sans
• Frontier
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[Badwolf182]

religion talks about a hell. This world IS hell. look around - there is poverty/exploitation/rape/murd­er/starvation the world is so corrupt. This so called war on 'terror' IS the crime against humanity - the lies/propaganda for greed/power/control.How sad to c proud afghans in such hell.

[walwop]

well u give at rest this is exactly the reson why afghanistan is in distruction becuse people like u would never respect other ethnec groups in the country i mean grow up, and by the way what r u rnt an afghan if not then what the hell ar u doing living in afghanistan, go back to what ever country ur grand fathers are from becouse this is the land of pashtoons wheher u like or not so shut the fuck up

[KruNae]

All you can hear when this guy talks is "I, I, I, me, me, me". 

[Zyworski]

The Taliban never really controlled the northern alliance, and we didn't start a civil war, it was already there. I don't expect a civil war as much as I expect the country to just break apart. The Taliban is the product of Pakistan and Al Qaeda meddling. As long as Pakistan is busy dealing with 10 million displaced persons in a flood ravaged country we have a good opportunity to bring democracy. Neutralizing the Pakistani's by flood was a divine gift from God, so sticking around is looking good

[Badwolf182]

@SlimBoyArcadeFire NO one wants america to act like a pure playground thug. They have no right to be in Afg/Iraq. They r not protecting anyone but their own self interest. plz watch a video on why we fight and war made easy via google videos so that u can understand the game play. Good luck on ur jounrey my friend

[Badwolf182]

@SlimBoyArcadeFire What nut caes. Plz becareful abt what they tell u on TV. They r using old fashion KGB/CIA/NAzi propaganda techniques. The ONLY terrorists are ppl like Bush/Runmsfeld/Obama/Cheney and co. They have single handedly killed 1000's (perhaps millions of Iraqi's alone) for their own agenda. One of profit as they own weapons manufacturing co and want to have a 1 world govt which by destroyg nations is leading up to their ultimate goals. afghans/iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11.

[Badwolf182]

contin.....

Afghan NEVER asked for 'help' they were invaded and now occcpied. Tell me who made the USA the police of the world??? when their own nation is falling apart! This is completely american empirialism under the guise of 'war on terror'. Its modern day empirialism thats all.

[Badwolf182]

@amanwithdreams

ur talking abt a 2 separate issues. The drugs/corrupt are one problem which btw is just as strong in the western world as it is in Afghanistan or anywhere else! The taliban r not in control. CIA have always been behind the poppy industry in afghstn and the drugs across the world with their coopertaives in those respective nations.

[amanwithdreams]

@Badwolf182 Way before Americans put thier foot on Afgans soil, The Afgans had a Choice. Selling your soal for Money is the problem from the start. The government is corrupt and the Taliban control all the poppy growing farms. They could of made different choices, but thier own corruption has led them to where they are. The same applies to all other countries. Iran has stood firm and rejected any help form America. Look at a map of army bases, none in Iran. Why?

[Rudie88]

yes i agree

[pakistanunited1984]

lol