In 2006, a group of British soldiers in Afghanistan, while on a routine patrol mission, stumbled across a dry river bed that, to their horro...
In 2006, a group of British soldiers in Afghanistan, while on a routine patrol mission, stumbled across a dry river bed that, to their horror, turned out to be a mine field. With one of their comrades already falling victim to a mine, the rest of the soldiers banded together to make sure everybody survived, even as more of them began to fall to the explosives hidden beneath their feet.
Kajaki, named after the strategically important dam the soldiers are stationed, isn't concerned with the gung-ho spirit of most war movies, instead being a much more grounded, character driven affair, exploring the brotherhood and horror born from the situation this handful of soldiers find themselves in. The actual conflict is always kept at arms length, usually observed through a rifle scope. The first act is superbly crafted as director Paul Katis and screen writer Tom Williams (Chalet Girl) take their time introducing our protagonists, perfectly capturing the boredom and routine of their mission, while the actors, with Game of Thrones' Mark Stanley leading a group of relative unknowns, go above an beyond with bringing the characters to life. Their interactions are incredibly real, going a long way to making us feel for these characters, as they laugh, kid and generally wind each other up. They are incredibly well rounded characters, making the moment that the first mine goes off incredibly shocking.
From this point on, the story never leaves the river bed as the realisation of this horrific situation sets in, becoming unbelievably tense as time marches on. The effects of the mines are brought to life in a realistically gruesome way, further hammering home the horror of the situation. You'll find yourself flinching with each step these characters take, a suffocating sense of dread making it clear that no one is safe. Kajaki is a slow burning lesson in tension, each minute that ticks by making you feel more uneasy, especially when it becomes increasingly clear that any attempt of rescue is ill advised.
Kajaki is an extremely difficult and gruesome movie to watch, but one that is incredibly rewarding, a perfectly played lesson in unbearable tension that will stay with you for the days, even weeks, that follow.
Kajaki, named after the strategically important dam the soldiers are stationed, isn't concerned with the gung-ho spirit of most war movies, instead being a much more grounded, character driven affair, exploring the brotherhood and horror born from the situation this handful of soldiers find themselves in. The actual conflict is always kept at arms length, usually observed through a rifle scope. The first act is superbly crafted as director Paul Katis and screen writer Tom Williams (Chalet Girl) take their time introducing our protagonists, perfectly capturing the boredom and routine of their mission, while the actors, with Game of Thrones' Mark Stanley leading a group of relative unknowns, go above an beyond with bringing the characters to life. Their interactions are incredibly real, going a long way to making us feel for these characters, as they laugh, kid and generally wind each other up. They are incredibly well rounded characters, making the moment that the first mine goes off incredibly shocking.
From this point on, the story never leaves the river bed as the realisation of this horrific situation sets in, becoming unbelievably tense as time marches on. The effects of the mines are brought to life in a realistically gruesome way, further hammering home the horror of the situation. You'll find yourself flinching with each step these characters take, a suffocating sense of dread making it clear that no one is safe. Kajaki is a slow burning lesson in tension, each minute that ticks by making you feel more uneasy, especially when it becomes increasingly clear that any attempt of rescue is ill advised.
Kajaki is an extremely difficult and gruesome movie to watch, but one that is incredibly rewarding, a perfectly played lesson in unbearable tension that will stay with you for the days, even weeks, that follow.
