The film The Covenant, directed by Guy Ritchie, centers around Sergeant John Kinley and interpreter Ahmed Abdullah as they journey together during the war in Afghanistan and attempt to fight the Taliban. In the beginning, Kinley’s entire unit is killed during a raid on an IED factory except for him and Abdullah. On their journey back, Kinley is incapacitated during a quick altercation with the Taliban. Instead of deserting him, Ahmed opts to carry John across the mountains and fights off covert Taliban attacks along the way. When John and Ahmed are finally rescued, it is up to John to secure visas and safe transportation for Ahmed and his family to the States before the Taliban hunts him down for revenge. In the end John, with the aid of personal allies, were able to successfully rescue Ahmed but not without lasting effects.
Despite the risks that Middle Eastern interpreters and translators took in order to help the American military, the promises and assurances given in turn by the United States tended to fall through or fail. These failed promises of United States’ aid, help, and protection of the American Dream come to light within this film. In addition, this film also follows very political themes like American Exceptionalism during the beginning, and American Isolationism at the end. At first, it becomes clear that the United States military is playing the police officer in a country where their presence seems unwelcome and unwanted. However, the viewer is still somewhat convinced of the American Exceptionalism as the soldiers are made out to be heroes, and those from the Middle East are made to be animals, as was repeated multiple times. It becomes clear that the United States was meant to seem as a beacon of light from Ahmed’s hope of immigration to the rescuing of Kinley towards the middle of the movie.
However, in the second half of the film as John returns home, there is more of a theme of isolation through not only the actual distance but also through a simple lack of communication. Instead of giving his family visas, Ahmed is forced into hiding after the US military abandoned him in Afghanistan, leaving him to suffer the wrath of the Taliban alone. During a series of short, cut scenes with anger, loud sounds, and bright views, the truth of America’s immigration and refugee system comes to light: it is broken. Despite his standing within the military, Kinley still has to depend on a superior to secure Ahmed and his family safe transportation and visas by pulling strings. This abandonment of interpreters who were crucial to the survival and success of the American military and people shows that United States values are self-centered and isolationist. Because, this situation is not directly affecting American citizens or American property, then it is not worth the Government’s time. This is further shown at the end of the movie as it shows the effects of the American government pulling out of Afghanistan and how many interpreter’s deaths were on their hands. For America to wreak destruction, violence, and death across multiple countries only to abandon them after accomplishing their own goals is an act of pure isolationism. While this film did not necessarily villainize this American war for its isolationism, it also did not make them out to be these amazing heroes.
Overall, I do not think The Covenant necessarily changed my views or perspectives on the War in Afghanistan as it did not offer necessarily a unique view on the War but it did offer new insights into the more minor specifics of war. While some films examine the relationships of various units or other officers, the relationship between a translator and commanding officer has never been explored, nor have the struggles behind it. This added to my previous thoughts of American aid and help to foreign countries after wars: that the help rarely makes a difference. The resources of the United States are far too great to have such a slow immigration system and such a lack of humanitarian assistance after supposedly “aiding” these countries.
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