ZWISCHEN WELTEN/INBETWEEN WORLDS

Germany, 2014, 98 minutes, Colour.
Ronald Zehrfeldt, Mohsin Ahmady.
Directed by Feo Aladag.

Audiences have seen many films about the American presence in Afghanistan after 9/11, the search for Osama Bin Laden, but few films about soldiers from other countries serving in Afghanistan. The Danish film, Brothers, is something of an exception (and was remade with the plot transferred to the United States). Audiences have not seen many films about German soldiers serving in Afghanistan. So this makes Inbetween Worlds distinctive.

We are immediately introduced to a runner on the beach who turns out to be Jesper, who has served already a term in Afghanistan, but is still grieving the death of his brother there. He has been asked to return by the authorities to take command of a small group.

The Afghanistan sequences are quite striking in the beauty of the mountains as well as of the desert. We see the army base with all its equipment. But we go out on an expedition with Jesper, trying to liaise with a local tribe against the Taliban. The German group does quite well, although it has some colonialist attitudes of which it is not aware, but which are made clear by the local leadership. The Germans are also restricted in what they can do in terms of helping the locals, especially when they are attacked.

The other central character is a young man from the city, a translator who can be relied on for his work – although, according to the subtitles, he makes very smooth and diplomatic a lot of the conversations. He is concerned about his sister who is studying at the University but subject to criticisms and attack, having to wear the Burka when she goes to her studies. The young man wants to rescue her and bring her to the camp where she can act as a cook. Riding on the motorbike, they are attacked, and the sister is shot.

This raises another dilemma for Jesper, headquarters urging him not to bring the woman in for medical attention, his focusing on the more personal aspects of the war and defying the commands.

The film was directed by female director, Feo Aladag, who made an impression with her film Die Fremde, a Turkish- German drama. While she brings to life the battles in contemporary Afghanistan, she brings a great deal of feeling to the characters and the situations, especially with Jesper and his being caught-martialled.

The final image of the film is a Stop sign at a railway crossing – and a surprisingly jolting ending.

1. Current issues? The war in Afghanistan? German presence? A focus on Afghanistan in itself, rather than a focus on a US/UN forces?

2. The location photography, the range of Afghanistan, mountains and deserts? The city and its amenities? The local fort, the local people? The musical score?

3. Political and social issues? The history of Afghanistan, pride, angers at invasions, lingering resentments? The number of countries which invaded? And all had to leave? The role of the Taliban? The tribes and loyalties? For and against the Taliban? Shootings and roadside bombs? Local hopes? Women and their roles, garb, university studies? The plight of translators? The final shot? The image of Stop?

4. The focus on Jesper, his running along the beach? Breathing hard? Smoking? Getting dressed, on the plane, the close-up? With the authorities? The importance of the death of his brother, his mourning him? His second round in Afghanistan? his being recalled, the possibility of saying no? His reputation as a commander? His age, experience?

5. The group, going into the desert, establishing the base, the local tribe, the local leader, to be trusted or not? The limited space for the base? Making sure who was in control? Issues of tensions, suspicions, wariness, attacks?

6. Tarik, the interview, his hopes? At home with his sister, his care for her? Their parents executed? For being on the ’wrong side’? His teaching the children? His being late, entering the line? Introduced to Jesper? His work as a translator, pointing out Haroon, his diplomacy in doing the translation? The stressing of local customs? Taking the bike to see his sister, Jesper taking the key, asking permission to get her and to keep her safe as a cook in the camp? His going home, taking her, her being shot, his carrying her to the base, Jesper and his insistence on taking her to the hospital, her recovery?

7. Details of life in the camp, the heat, the need for water, the Germans in the dormitory, the mosquito nets? The issue of the shooting of the cow, in pain? The tribesman and their aggression, stating this was illegal, losing their livelihood? The authorities refusing to pay the costs of the cow? Jesper, going to the show with the Germans performing the cabaret, collecting the money, giving the donation, Haroon and his grateful acceptance of the money? The attack on the fort, Haroon and his plea for German assistance, the phone calls to the authorities, their refusing, the return, burying their comrades? The snipers, Olli seeing the boy, being shot?

8. Jesper’s decision to go to the hospital, Olli and his standards, Jesper’s obligation to save the men? The attack, Olli’s death? Jesper driving, the sentries and their security at the camp, going to the hospital, the help?

9. Jesper, the authorities, the court-martial, German regulations?

10. Tarik and his teaching again, his sister better? Going to university and graduating?

11. Jesper, going home, on the beach, reflecting on what he had done? The meaning of the presence in Afghanistan?

12. Tariq, on the bike, at the stop sign, his being shot? And the final image of STOP?