America and the Taliban

America and the Taliban is a three-part documentary that asks how two decades of U.S. presence in Afghanistan ended with the Taliban back in power and at what cost. Drawing on decades of on-the-ground reporting, the filmmakers assemble interviews with Taliban members, U.S. officials, Afghan civilians and journalists, mapping key decisions, battlefield realities and missed opportunities. Rather than offering a single viewpoint, the film pieces together eyewitness testimony and archival footage to show how policies, politics and local dynamics interacted, and it keeps attention on the human consequences for ordinary Afghans. It also asks who bears responsibility.

Released in 2023, the film was directed by Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith, and draws on decades of frontline reporting. Journalists including Bilal Sarwary and Smith appear onscreen, guiding viewers through interviews, archives and field footage from Afghanistan, and context.

Critical and audience response has been mixed, with many noting the film's detailed reporting and thorough timelines while others found its scope dense, its pace methodical. It foregrounds accountability, the limits of military power, the consequences of policy failures, and the long-term human fallout for Afghan civilians.

The documentary intensified public and policy debates over the 2021 U.S. withdrawal and America's role in Afghanistan, and it has been referenced in news coverage and expert panels. By keeping humanitarian consequences visible, it has helped sustain attention on refugees, accountability and questions about how future interventions are planned.

As of its release there were no major award nominations or wins reported. The film has been more prominent in journalism and policy conversations than on the festival circuit, and its impact has been measured by discussion and analysis rather than trophies. It had limited festival play and modest runs.