60
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittThe movie doesn't reach any deep insights, but its mixture of psychology, philosophy, and realpolitik is downright riveting.
- 80VarietyVarietyThis educational and moving film is must-viewing for anyone who craves a glimpse of the best qualities of a country that many have coveted but which has never been colonized.
- 75New York PostJonathan ForemanNew York PostJonathan ForemanA unique, priceless portrait of the now legendary leader, and of his beautiful country when it was in the grip of a disastrous civil war.
- 70The New York TimesDana StevensThe New York TimesDana StevensI was struck by how personal this movie is, and by the delicate symbiosis that develops between biographer and subject. Mr. Ponfilly's presence in the film (mostly on the soundtrack and once or twice on camera) does not overshadow Massoud so much as filter our understanding of him.
- 70Village VoiceJ. HobermanVillage VoiceJ. HobermanIt's not the least of Afghan tragedies that this noble warlord would be consigned to the dustbin of history.
- 38New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsA weak documentary. There's very little here to demonstrate the personality and leadership qualities that made Massoud both a legend and a martyr. Raw, sloppily edited, unfocused and without any sense of scale, it's personal journalism with its heart in the right place, and that's about it.
- 30The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayA series of non-answers isn't enough to build a documentary on, especially when they're strung together by insufferably self-congratulatory voiceover narration (de Ponfilly plays up his agony over whether documentary filmmaking helps or hurts its subjects) and corny stylistic effects.