Hollywoodgate is a film that exists by pure luck and delusion. Harnessing a bravery last seen in the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, Hollywoodgate offers viewers a first-hand account of the inner workings of never-before-seen Taliban territory. Filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at risks his life by documenting this historic moment in time, just days after the United States hurriedly pulled out of Afghanistan, subsequently leaving billions of dollars worth of military equipment and technology in the hands of terrorists.

The Taliban takes over an abandoned U.S. intelligence base

After the horror of 9/11, US and NATO forces invaded Afghanistan to help overthrow the Taliban for their role in safeguarding Al Qaeda. On August 31, 2021, nearly three years ago, the Taliban reclaimed Kabul. Hollywoodgate is an exposé on the sequence of events that happened once the last American soldier was removed from the CIA base camp, and the resulting threat to humanity that continues to lay in wait today.

Watch the Hollywoodgate trailer here.

The footage that Ibrahim Nash’at, an Egyptian journalist, captures from the base camp is displayed in starkly intimate detail. His access is unparalleled and truly astounding. In an early voiceover, Ibrahim explains that he negotiated an arrangement with the Taliban. His assimilation into their community would not only grant him limited access to the abandoned US airbase, but to the men themselves. Specifically, he would be documenting Malawi Mansour, a novice Air Force commander, and M.J. Mukhtar, a psychologically tortured young lieutenant. Armed with one translator and one camera, Ibrahim Nash’at bravely documents the Taliban’s exploration of the former CIA base, and the beginning of their transition into a military regime. “If his intentions are bad he will die soon,” one of the men says regarding Ibrahim’s presence.

Recreating American defense weapons… to use against America

Ibrahim is slow and steady with his camera movements as he trails behind the men exploring the army base. His actions are very methodical and observational, one wrong move could be a death sentence. One of the film’s more humorous moments (if you can call it that) occurs when one Taliban member opens an abandoned refrigerator to find leftover Fireball and Jaggermeister. They curiously inspect the bottles, perhaps tempted to take a sip. The more shocking discoveries are enough to send a chill down your spine. They discover endless bottles of medicine, tech equipment, and defective aircrafts, prompting the men to realize that these leftovers haven’t been properly destroyed as the US made their rapid escape, and can now be rebuilt. And that is what they set out to do: recreate American defense weapons to use against America.

The tone of Hollywoodgate is suspenseful with an air of mystery surrounding it. The chilling score by the German composer Volker Bertelmann perfectly complements the intimacy and riskiness of the production. For his part as director, cinematographer, and co-writer, Ibrahim Nash’at delivers a staggering, once-in-a-lifetime documentary.

Takeaway

Making its World Premiere at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, Hollywoodgate is an urgent and required viewing. As if the film wasn’t worrisome enough, it ends with a sobering fact that is hard to forget. According to the Pentagon, the US left over $7 Billion worth of our military resources in Afghanistan when we abruptly pulled out. To the world’s horror, this equipment is now considered operational and could likely be in the hands of unknown Taliban members.