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War drama

Jirga (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Jirga (2019) movie poster

Jirga is a 2019 war drama directed by Benjamin Gilmour, starring Samad Khan as Roadblock Taliban, Sam Smith and Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad. It runs 1 hour 18 minutes and earned $110,056 worldwide. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Indie Film at the AACTA Awards 2018. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
78%
worldwide gross
$110.1K
award won
1
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Jirga (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 18m (78 min)
Director
Benjamin Gilmour
Genres
Drama , War
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Jirga About?

The premise of Jirga without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Following a conflict, an Australian soldier grapples with the repercussions of a tragic mistake. He undertakes a dangerous journey to Afghanistan to meet the family of the man he unintentionally caused the death of. Confronting the consequences of his past actions and the deep-seated trauma he carries, he seeks a path toward understanding and reconciliation in this emotionally charged drama.

Jirga Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • one word title
  • anti war
  • australian
  • soldier
  • taliban
  • car
  • driver
  • desert
  • remorse
  • forgiveness
  • justice
  • redemption
+18 more
  • money
  • shop
  • guitar
  • playing guitar
  • singing
  • swimming
  • lake
  • boy
  • village
  • family relationships
  • widow
  • prisoner
  • bus
  • blade
  • ex soldier
  • afghanistan
  • independent film
  • title spoken by character
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Cast & crew

Jirga Cast & Characters

Samad Khan leads the cast as Roadblock Taliban, with Sam Smith as Mike Wheeler and Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad as Taxi Driver. Directed by Benjamin Gilmour; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Jirga

· 6 more
From the director

More from Benjamin Gilmour

One more film directed by Benjamin Gilmour: Son of a Lion.

Full filmography
Ratings

Jirga Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Jirga 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in story & flow (55).

67 /100

Jirga Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Jirga demonstrates a solid realization of its themes despite uneven execution across several areas. The film’s sincere portrayal of Afghanistan and philosophical underpinnings garner consistent praise, while critics note occasional heavy-handed messaging and technical roughness. Commentary highlights the film’s ability to open viewers’ eyes to a foreign landscape, even as its narrative structure and editing invite skepticism. The resulting experience combines thoughtful intent with sporadic craftsmanship issues.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, Jirga delivers authentic visual textures but is undermined by uneven technical execution. The guerrilla-style cinematography and on-location production evoke an immersive sense of place, though shaky focus and occasional abrupt edits draw criticism. Direction is conscientious yet restrained, balancing realism with narrative demands. Overall, the visual presentation feels earnest but somewhat rough.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, Jirga offers compelling performances that resonate with authenticity. The lead’s introspective journey and the supporting cast’s natural interactions foster genuine emotional engagement. Some critiques cite a lack of subtlety in the protagonist’s outsider perspective, yet the overall depth and resonance remain intact. The emotional core holds steady.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, Jirga presents thought-provoking thematic content but follows a deliberately elliptical structure. Pacing varies between meditative sequences and abrupt narrative transitions, leading to uneven engagement. The plot’s moralistic framing elicits mixed responses, with some viewers finding the message heavy-handed. The net impression is of an original premise tempered by structural inconsistency.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, Jirga’s sound design and visual style create an immersive atmosphere. Natural ambient sounds and a sparse soundtrack underscore the reality of the setting, while the color palette highlights the landscape’s richness. Some find the raw visuals vivid, though the unsteady handheld shots can be distracting. The sensory impact remains arresting overall.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch factor, Jirga offers memorable thematic moments but may not encourage frequent revisits. The film’s authentic depiction of a foreign environment and its philosophical undercurrents resonate on first viewing, yet the heavy messaging and rough technical elements may lessen appeal over time. The lasting impression is thought-provoking, albeit not highly conducive to repeated viewings.

Plot

Jirga Plot Summary

What happens in Jirga from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

During a helicopter raid, the Australian army sweeps a small Afghan village, Ghazi Ghar, in a bid to root out hidden Taliban fighters. The operation finds villagers defending their homes and families, and shots ring out as they try to shield one another. In the leaving chaos, Mike Wheeler—the young soldier in the midst of the action—unintentionally shoots and kills an unarmed man who steps into the doorway of his house; the man’s wife and children pull him back inside as the dust settles. The scene is stark and haunting, setting a tone of wartime fear, confusion, and the heavy weight of duty on those who hunt in the shadows of war.

Full summary

The whole story of Jirga, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Jirga Box Office

Jirga grossed $110,056 worldwide.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$110.1K

International
$110.1K
Awards

Jirga Awards & Nominations

Jirga won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Indie Film at the AACTA Awards 2018.

1 win1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Jirga Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Jirga (Official Trailer)
  • Trailer Jirga - Official US Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Jirga?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the Afghan village where the opening raid takes place?

Details

Jirga Also Known As

33 alternative titles, including “Mia broxerh mera sth Nea Yorki” and “Mia broheri mera sth Nea Yorki”.

Also known as
  • Mia broxerh mera sth Nea Yorki
  • Mia broheri mera sth Nea Yorki
  • 雨天・紐約
  • Um Dia de Chuva em Nova York
  • 레이니 데이 인 뉴욕
  • 情迷紐約下雨天
  • Día de lluvia en Nueva York
  • Un jour de pluie à New York
  • Un giorno di pioggia a New York
  • Μία Βροχερή Μέρα Στη Νέα Υόρκη
  • Daždivý deň v New Yorku
  • Един дъждовен ден в Ню Йорк
+21 more
  • Lietinga diena Niujorke
  • Deštivý den v New Yorku
  • New York'ta Yağmurlu Bir Gün
  • Дождливый день в Нью-Йорке
  • Dia de pluja a Nova York
  • Дощовий день в Нью-Йорку
  • Un día lluvioso en Nueva York
  • Um Dia de Chuva em Nova Iorque
  • W deszczowy dzień w Nowym Jorku
  • יום גשום בניו יורק
  • Egy esős nap New Yorkban
  • 纽约的一个雨天
  • Lietaina diena Ņujorkā
  • يوم ممطر في نيويورك
  • Кишни дан у Њујорку
  • Chuyện Ngày Mưa Ở New York
  • วันฝนตกในนิวยอร์ก, წვიმიანი დღე ნიუ იორკში
  • O zi ploioasă în New York
  • レイニーデイ・イン・ニューヨーク
  • یک روز بارانی در نیویورک
  • Deževen dan v New Yorku

Seen Jirga?

FAQ

Jirga FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Jirga, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Jirga?

Jirga runs 1 hour 18 minutes (78 minutes).

When was Jirga released?

Jirga was released on July 26, 2019.

Who directed Jirga?

Jirga was directed by Benjamin Gilmour.

More films by Benjamin Gilmour

Who is in the cast of Jirga?

Jirga stars Samad Khan as Roadblock Taliban, Sam Smith as Mike Wheeler and Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad as Taxi Driver, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Jirga make at the box office?

Jirga grossed $110,056 worldwide.

How is Jirga rated?

Jirga has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 59 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

What awards did Jirga win?

Jirga won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Indie Film at the AACTA Awards 2018.

Does Jirga have a post-credit scene?

No. Jirga has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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