Cinema surveillance images are loading at the bottom of the page

Son of a lion - Niaz Khan Shinwari, Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad, Benjamin Gilmour

Threat advisory: Guarded - General risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In 2004 and 2005, Sydney-based writer/director Benjamin Gilmour left his job as a film-set medic in London, travelling undercover into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan, to the forbidden gun-manufacturing village of Darra Adam Khel. In a narrow valley bordering Afghanistan, Darra is home to the Adam Khel Afridis, a clan who have been making weapons for as long as anyone can remember.

With the help of locals there, and in the nearby town of Kohat, Gilmour shot the film Son of a lion independently, despite extraordinary risks in an area where even local journalists are barred and where cameras are confiscated by authorities. He developed the screenplay in conjunction with non-professional actors, inhabitants of the main location Darra Adam Khel and members of the Pashtun people. This has resulted in authentic dialogues and scenes that afford the viewer a rare glimpse into the region, both profoundly socio-cultural and political.

Son of a lion tells the story of 11-year-old Niaz (Niaz Khan Shinwari) who lives with his father Sher Alam Afridi (Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad) in a small town in northwest Pakistan, where for generations the local population have earned their living by producing weapons. It would seem that this is what the future holds for Niaz. But Niaz has different ambitions, and dreams of being allowed to go to school. His longing for an education marks Niaz as an outsider amongst the other young people within his community. And when finally, he refuses to follow in his father's footsteps, pent-up conflicts erupt within his family.

Warrior poets by Benjamin Gilmour, the book which tells the story behind the making of this incredible film, is now available from PIER 9 (Murdoch Books).

Theatrical propaganda posters

Son of a lion theatrical one sheet image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

  • Film Australia drama Pakistan Pashtun gun manufacture clan child mountains desert father/son relationship

Persons of interest

  • Niaz Khan Shinwari .... Niaz Afridi
  • Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad .... Sher Alam Afridi
  • Baktiyar Ahmed Afridi .... Baktiyar Afridi
  • Anousha Vasif Shinwari .... Anousha Baktiyar
  • Fazal Bibi .... Grandma
  • Khaista Mir .... Pite Afridi
  • Hayat Khan Shinwari .... Hayat Afridi
  • Agha Jaan .... Agha Jaan
  • Noor Ullah .... Agha Jaan's son
  • Mubasir Afridi .... Rabab player
  • Sarwar Khan Shinwari .... Grandpa
  • Khalid Khan .... Dentist
  • Benjamin Gilmour .... Screenwriter
  • Benjamin Gilmour .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Son of a lion is a dry and sandy film that's full of rocks. It makes you wonder how people live in the mountains of Pakistan as there's nothing to drink (unless you count the sand) or eat (unless you count the rocks) and even less to live for (unless you count being dry). And then there's the shooting. There has to be more to life than making and mending guns. It's rough but the story of impoverished children dreaming of something more than their parents' lives is one that has been done before and in more dramatic terms.

You'll like The kite runner better.

The Australia, drama, Pakistan movie Son of a lion is directed by Benjamin Gilmour and stars Niaz Khan Shinwari, Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad.

Media intelligence (DVD)

  • Languages: Pashtu
  • Picture: Widescreen
  • Special features:
    • Commentaries: Director Benjamin Gilmour and stars Niaz Khan Shinwari and Hayat Khan Shinwari
    • Deleted scenes
    • Documentaries: Behind the scenes footage
    • Trailers: Theatrical
  • Subtitles: English captions

Government security censorship classification

PG (Infrequent drug use)

Surveillance time

92 minutes (1:32 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: 21 August 2008
DVD rental: 7 January 2009
DVD retail: 6 May 2009

Cinema surveillance images

Son of a lion movie imageSon of a lion movie imageSon of a lion movie imageSon of a lion movie imageSon of a lion movie imageSon of a lion movie image

[ Top of the page ]