Warrior Poets

by Benjamin Gilmour

On a journey through the remote North West Frontier of Pakistan, Australian Benjamin Gilmour discovered an astonishing culture - 'one of strong beliefs and a suspicion of outsiders, a love of Hollywood films and an obsession with making guns'. With unstoppable determination, Benjamin decided to return a year later to make a movie about those tribal regions - despite the fact that he had never actually made a film before and that it was illegal and extremely dangerous for him to do so. Warrior Poets is a riveting memoir about Benjamin’s journeys to Pakistan and the making of the film.

Genres: Pakistan, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Benjamin Gilmour was born in Germany in 1975, but has lived most of his life in Australia. He is an award-winning filmmaker and writer. His first book, Warrior Poets – Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan, was published in 2008, based on his experiences directing the feature film Son of a Lion. His best-seller Paramedico is published in numerous countries. His latest book is The Gap (Penguin Random House).

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the back story to, and the story of the making of the movie 'Son of a Lion', which won moderate fame (albeit mostly in Australia) featuring at the Belgium Film Festival, picking up a 'Film Critics Circle of Australia Award' and an 'Inside Film Award'.
On a visit to Darra Adam Khel, in Pakistan, Australian film maker (so not really until he made his film) Benjamin Gilmour wanted to make a film that would combat negative Western perceptions of Pashtuns and Muslims following the 11 September attacks. He carried on his travels to the UK, where he developed his script under the name 'The Bullet Boy'.
Returning in 2005, he commenced setting up and establishing a network of contacts to be in a position to make his film. With a lot of work, and help from various people, and without a permit to enter Darra and the federally administered tribal lands, he began shooting his film.
Without spoiling too much, there were many challenges to the filming, the script was pretty much thrown out, and much of the success of the film was due to the commitment and assistance granted by Gilmour's close friends and the Pashtun people.
The book is simply, but well written, and show-cases the people of Darra and the tribal lands around Darra where the movie takes place. A really good read, which manages to tell its own story and educate about the culture and the traditions of the Pashtun people.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well thank you Wilma for giving me this book. I started to read it put it down, left it a week or two picked it up again, persevered then somewhere it turned a corner, for an ambulance driver turned director, cameraman not to mention major risk taker.

From Sharon Stone to Darra Adam Khel poor Sharon comes a distant second to the people of the NWFP

The picture he painted of the country, the people the politics the deceit that our own governments are involved in. It brings to life that Latin phrase "Homo homini lupus" meaning "man is a wolf to man."

In some ways I couldn't wait to finish the book, but now feel a certain disconnect from the Pashtun people he brought to life for me, and how hum-drum our lives are.

The description of the gift of kasturi (musk from the antlers of deers in the Himalayas made this worth reading for me.)

I throughly recommend this book for people that want to learn about the world and its people.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I have a strong interest in Pakistan. Its really nicely written and give an illuminating insight into life in remote Pakistan. You can also see the film Son of a Lion, which again demonstrates life in these sparse and remote areas. Definitely worth reading.