What is it that drives super fit, mentally stable, adequate men of above average intelligence to delve eagerly into the Heart of Darkness, to chopper into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, accompanied only by existential fear and complete trust in ‘the guy next to ya’. That’s the question for which filmmaker Vik Franke would like to find an answer.

After two years of research, he gained the trust of the Dutch and US Special Forces and joined them for more than two months on operations in the heartland of the Taliban: the central province Uruzgan. During one particularly long and fierce fire fight, Vik Franke ran out of batteries and films. When the unit was again attacked, Vik picked up a gun and fought for his life. A month later, the film was broadcast, prompting official Parliamentary Questions to be asked of the Secretaries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. Then the press caught wind and turned up the heat...