VIFF 2015: Impressive Hyena Road enters a moral quagmire
Hyena Road (Canada)
Canadian Forces are trying to build a road through Afghanistan, but find themselves caught in an old standoff between a legendary Mujahideen (mesmerizing non-actor Niamatullah Arghandabi) and a pitiless warlord enjoying covert U.S. protection.
Impressively realized by actor-writer-director Paul Gross, Hyena Road offers surprising candour about the political realities of the conflict and nimble storytelling in its race to a gripping third act. But basic moral questions about war as commercial entertainment linger; something you might want to discuss once you’ve recovered from the film’s considerable emotional wallop.
Centre, September 26 (6:30 p.m.); International Village, September 29 (4:15 p.m.)
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