Watch Afghanistan's Opium Trail

Afghanistan's Opium Trail is documentary from 2007 that explores the multifaceted issue of opium production in Afghanistan. Through interviews with government officials, drug lords, farmers and addicts, the film sheds light on the complex web of politics, economics and culture that fuels the trade. The film opens with a stunning aerial view of the rugged landscapes of Afghanistan. The narrator explains that since the US-led invasion in 2001, opium production has surged, reaching record levels and making Afghanistan the world's largest producer of opium by a wide margin. The film sets out to explore why this is the case and what can be done to address the problem.

The first section explores the historical context of opium production in Afghanistan. The narrator explains how opium has been grown in Afghanistan for centuries, and how it was once a legal and widely used product. However, successive wars and foreign invasions, coupled with the rise of the Taliban, which banned opium production in the late 1990s, created chaos in the country's economy, leaving opium as one of the few viable crops for farmers.

The film then delves into the social and economic impact of opium. Through interviews with farmers, the film shows how difficult it is for them to make a living from alternative crops, as the infrastructure for transport and export is simply not in place. The film also shows how addiction has destroyed many lives, often pushing users into crime to feed their habit. We follow a British doctor working in a methadone clinic in Kabul, as she talks to patients about their experiences.

The next section of the film explores the political landscape of opium production. We hear from officials from the Afghan government, who explain their efforts to combat opium production, and the difficulties they face in doing so. We also hear from US officials, who explain how opium is linked to the insurgency, as drug lords often fund the Taliban with their profits. The film suggests that the US-led war effort may actually have exacerbated the problem by driving farmers into the hands of warlords and drug traffickers.

The final section of the film looks at potential solutions to the opium problem. The film explores alternative crops, such as saffron and pomegranates, and shows how some farmers are making a successful transition. However, the film also highlights the difficulties involved in convincing a whole society to change their habits and embrace new crops. The film illustrates a successful corporate-driven initiative to decrease opium production through supporting and training growers and providing export routes, which tackles the infrastructure issue at the root of the problem.

Overall, Afghanistan's Opium Trail is a powerful exploration of a complex issue. The film is well researched and well made, filling in many of the gaps left by mainstream media coverage of the conflict in Afghanistan. While it doesn't offer any easy solutions, the film provides a nuanced understanding of the issue, and shows the search for solutions is taking place on many levels. The cinematography captures the beauty and ruggedness of Afghanistan, and the interviews give a human face to the problem, making it more relatable to the viewer. The film leaves the viewer with a sense of hope as well as despair, suggesting that progress is possible, but it requires a multi-faceted approach involving not just governments, but farmers, corporations and society at large.

Afghanistan's Opium Trail is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.