Cabal in Kabul

Cabal in Kabul
Directed by	Dan Alexe
Produced by	Serge Kestemont
Starring	Zabulon Simantov Yitzchak Levin
Release date	2006 (2006)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	Belgium
Language	Dari with English subtitles

Cabal in Kabul (French: Cabale à Kaboul) is a documentary film directed by filmmaker Dan Alexe. It follows the lives of two men, Zabulon Simantov and Yitzchak Levin, who are said to be the last remaining Jews in Afghanistan.

Background

Isaac and Zabulon live in the courtyard of the synagogue in Kabul. Isaac, the eldest of the two, resides on the ground floor selling amulets to his Muslim neighbors. Zabulon, who lives on the upper floor, sells illegally-produced wine.

The pair have been acquainted for many years, and they are seen constantly expressing their jealousy and distaste for one another. It is said that the Taliban had once imprisoned them, but released the two when their bickering prolonged.

Reception

Unifrance said that the hatred between Zabulon and Isaac is "intense", making the movie far from dull despite the otherwise lonely and isolated existence. Filmfest Hamburg labelled the film as a tragicomedy that explores the lingering pieces of a former society.

Contrastingly, Jacques Mandelbaum of the French newspaper Le Monde wrote that the film worryingly did not show any sympathy for the subjects nor their hostilities towards each other. He criticized the filmmaker for taking a stance of indifference in its portrayal, and for attempting to exploit the pair's relationship.