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The Giant Buddhas

Play trailer Poster for The Giant Buddhas 2005 1h 35m Documentary History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In March 2001, the Taliban decides to blow up two giant 1,500-year-old statues of Buddha in Afghanistan's remote Bamiyan Valley as part of an initiative to destroy all non-Islamic religious art. This documentary examines the history and cultural resonance of the statues from many different perspectives, including an Afghan actress returning home to see the empty valley, archeologists trying to find an alleged third statue and an Al Jazeera reporter who documents the destruction.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Ethan Gilsdorf Boston Globe Rated: 2/4 Nov 24, 2011 Full Review Reel.com Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 22, 2006 Full Review Michael Ferraro Film Threat Christian Frei had enough material for three films, yet, when compiled together, each story feels a bit incomplete. Rated: 3/5 Jan 24, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member really cool & heart wrenching doc Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A heart breaking look into what can happen to ancient monuments by modern people. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Sad story of the malicious destruction of cultural artifacts, but still no worse than the long history of looting. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Compelling. Devastating loss when taliban destroyed the giant buddhas in afghanistan in 2001 just 6 mos or so before 9/11. I don't know if any connection, but we should always be leery of any intolerance...a sign of bad times...like an omen of the zeitgeist or something. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I enjoyed the individual stories but in the end there was no closure. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Fantastic score and everything but the "Dear Nellifer" was annoying and the subject matter is kinda boring. It felt drawn out, could have made it fit into and hour. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Giant Buddhas

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The Giant Buddhas

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Movie Info

Synopsis In March 2001, the Taliban decides to blow up two giant 1,500-year-old statues of Buddha in Afghanistan's remote Bamiyan Valley as part of an initiative to destroy all non-Islamic religious art. This documentary examines the history and cultural resonance of the statues from many different perspectives, including an Afghan actress returning home to see the empty valley, archeologists trying to find an alleged third statue and an Al Jazeera reporter who documents the destruction.
Director
Christian Frei
Producer
Christian Frei
Production Co
Christian Frei Filmproductions, ZDF Arte, SRF
Genre
Documentary, History, Drama
Original Language
Arabic
Runtime
1h 35m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital