Retrograde – REVIEW
Image: Still from Retrograde, opening night film of Antenna Documentary Film Festival 2022.
By JANE MAJOR
Matthew Heineman’s Retrograde covers the weeks before and after the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan and opened with its Australian premiere at the eleventh edition of the Antenna Documentary Film Festival. We revisit the familiar chaotic and terrifying scenes of the final days at Kabul Airport before exploring the weeks before and after.
Heineman introduces us to a troop of American Green Berets who are training Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers and we meet their leader, General Sami Sadat. Heineman gives us astonishingly intimate and authentic scenes. The filming is beautifully crafted, to the extent that the images almost appear as carefully shot as for a regular movie. We know this is not the case, yet the lighting, pace, close ups are all considered and meticulous.
Fear, uncertainty, anxiety, horror, distress, doubt, dismay, disbelief are expertly captured and of course we have the benefit of hindsight in knowing the outcome which saw the Taliban take power within a short time after the US military left. This is not an easy film to watch and the knowledge of the inevitability of the Taliban taking over compounds the sense of doom and hopelessness, highlighting the unfolding tragedy and ongoing loss of life.
I was not the only person to see strong similarities between General Sami Sadat and Volodymyr Zelenskyy – both compassionate, calm and courageous men. We see Sami Sadat in many situations, always with the same considered and respectful manner.
It was difficult to witness the almost immediate decline in the Afghan army’s self-belief once the US military support left. Sami Sadat appears unable to admit the reality before him that the Taliban is winning, only capitulating at the last moment. Today Sami Sadat is exiled in the UK, yet remains hopeful of returning to liberate his compatriots.
The documentary portrays the US military personnel in a favourable, even fond way, yet why was so much destroyed as they retreated? Why did the US and allies not better prepare the army they were leaving to their fate and at the very least leave them equipped? One year on we witness the impact of the US military operation in leaving Afghanistan which by any measure is worse off.
The 94-minute film returns to Kabul Airport for final moments and we are left with the vision of a young woman, seemingly stunned, gazing through a wire fence at those who will be making the last flights out.
