Review of Son of a Lion (2007) by Brian F — 03 Oct 2008

First feature directed by Sydney paramedic Benjamin Gilmour is a low budget story set in the Pashtun tribal area of Pakistan. A simple tale of a 11 year old boy who wants to enrol in school; his stern father, a former Mujihadeen, wants him to instead learn the family business, firearms manufacturing.

Shot in secret, at some risk to all involved, this story is told carefully and effectively using amateur actors. In the process, a rare insight is afforded into an area we all know about as the hiding place of Osama Bin Laden, but almost never get to see on a human level.

Should be compulsive viewing for presidential candidates and their advisors, who routinely discuss sending in the troops and bombers to this region. Well worth the price of a ticket, but will probably come out on SBS before too long.

I've bought the companion book, "Warrior Poets" and I'm looking forward to reading it.