Opium War (2008)

Opium War (2008) is a 2008 Afghan black comedy film helmed by Siddiq Barmak. The movie was entirely filmed in Afghanistan and centers around the journey of two American soldiers, Peter Bussian and Joe Suba, who endure a helicopter crash in the Afghan desert. Stranded and vulnerable, they encounter a diverse family of Afghan opium farmers. To authentically depict an opium poppy field, Barmak secured Afghan government approval to cultivate the crop, which had been outlawed in 2002. The production faced numerous hurdles, particularly with the poppy field. Notably, Afghan poppy eradication teams attempted to demolish the set twice, and drought conditions necessitated drilling a well and transporting water from distant locations. The film represented Afghanistan's entry for the 2009 Academy Awards. It was showcased at various international film festivals, including the 2008 Rome Film Festival, where it garnered The Golden Marc’Aurelio Critics’ Award for Best Film.