Documentary

Directed By:Dan Krause

Release Year: 2025

Studio/Streamer: Paramount

Audio Description Provided By: no credits given

Written By: Credit Needed

Narrated By: Credit Needed

What is it?: An explosive look into the Afghanistan War from those who were there. were we ever winning? Was there ever a point? Interviewing several officials who were involved across the 20+ years of Afghani occupation, the picture becomes clear. We were never properly prepared for what came next

What Works:An interesting look and compendium to a lot of the documentaries that have come out and focused on the good things we may have done for Afghanistan, or how we shouldn’t have left behind. Bodyguard Of Lies uses experiences from those there, to shed light on all the missteps made along the way. We didn’t understand the culture,the terrain, the history, the religion, or anything else about these people, but yet we fought to not just free the citizens, but offer them structure and democracy.

Watching a documentary like this as a stand alone experience is already a singularly informative work that reshapes how you may view an entire conflict. But hhaving this in the wake of our current military structure, where our armed services are being used to invade American cities at the personal behest of an individual shows we learned very little about the rules of engagement or the cost of war.

Bodyguard Of Lies expertly lays out how there was always spin, creating an image of success where there was none, and the idea that our troops were used primarily to maintain a conflict that awarded billions to private contractors. Now, not wanting to get into an active foreign war, our President has decided to start a domestic war, once again applying the same spin used by previous administrations (including his first), that are required to project success even when there is none.

It’s a powerful documentary, and one that still has relevance today, outside of Afghanistan. For the reverence we hold our troops in, we certainly do not treat them with high regard. And often when we seek to demand reconstruction of a society reminiscent of our values, we forget that there is a culture being ignored and erased as a result.

the Audio Description: there are some war images, to be sure, but most of this is about who is talking, and giving context. The track is solid for a documentary track, though no company was credited.

You Might Like this If: You enjoy the documentaries of filmmakers like Errol Morris.

You Might Not Like it If: You want to preserve the idea in your head that Afghanistan was awesome and everyone is better off for it.

Final Thoughts: One of the best documentaries of the year, Bodyguard Of Lies holds accountable those who never were, for a war we never needed to fight, certainly for the length of time spent. A scathing look at the cost of an ill prepared war.

Fresh: Final Grade: 9.1/10