Our Mission
Inform viewers about the service and sacrifices of our Afghan Special Operations partners in America's longest war.
Honor the Afghan-American partnership forged on the battlefield and the bonds that endure today.
Inspire engagement as Afghans embrace opportunities through community building, education, and meaningful employment.
Producer's Statement
My favorite quote about the U.S. comes from President Ronald Reagan: "...any person with the courage, with the desire to tear up their roots, to strive for freedom, to attempt and dare to live in a strange and foreign place, to travel halfway across the world..." is welcome here.
In 1982, my family fled Afghanistan and sought refuge in the U.S. My brother and I joined the U.S. Navy, our small way of giving back to the country that gave us our freedom.
During my deployments, I was always in awe of our Afghan Special Operations partners. Americans always had a ticket home. Afghans lived in danger every single day.
Khalid Noori, one of our best partners and the heart of this film, embodies Reagan's quote. He had the courage to strive for freedom and the determination to build a better life for his family. As Afghan Special Operators embrace life in America, Noori will help audiences see them as American veterans do - as teammates, as equals who have earned a life of dignity and peace.
Both in and out of uniform, I have spent my life building bridges between cultures. This documentary is another bridge, inviting you to see life, loss, love, and liberty through a different set of eyes.
LYLA KOHISTANY
Director's Statement
I first met Khalid Noori in 2022 and I was instantly captivated by his story. His determination to press on despite encountering unimaginable tragedy and seemingly insurmountable obstacles was profoundly moving.
Following our first conversation over dinner, I was reminded of a phrase by Ernest Hemingway on which I often reflect, “the world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.”
From that moment forward, I felt a calling to help share Noori’s inspiring journey with a world in desperate need of true role models. Every film that I have had the privilege to work on has a common thread - the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Noori is no exception.
WILL AGEE
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Noori's Statement
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, I had to remove my Afghan Army uniform so I could escape. Removing it was not just leaving a job or a role; I lost my sense of purpose, identity, and belonging built through service and sacrifice alongside my teammates.
Coming to the U.S. gave me the chance to begin again. But I struggled with how to move forward. What carried me through was the bond of brotherhood between Afghan and American Special Operations forces. They brought us to safety and stood by us, reminding me that loyalty and service are lifelong commitments.
Becoming a father made this second chance deeply personal. My responsibility was no longer only to those I had served with, but to my daughter and the life I want for her - one defined by liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I chose to be part of this film because too often, Afghan Special Operations veterans are discussed but rarely heard. By sharing my journey, I hope Americans will see an example of resilience and hope.
We want to build lives in the U.S. We want to work, see our children thrive, and contribute to our communities. This film is an invitation to connect on a human level, to focus on our shared goals and dreams for ourselves and for our families. God bless America.
KHALID NOORI
