This is the epic story of Afghanistan seen through the eyes of an Afghan warrior, independent filmmakers and a small group of independent journalists, two who died covering the story. The filmmakers spent more than 20 years capturing the Soviet occupation, the exile of millions of refugees maimed by Soviet mines, a violent civil war, the fatal alliance of the Taliban with al-Qaeda, the invasion by United States forces and people still determined to survive to this day.

Filmmakers Jim Burroughs and Suzanne Bauman have a wealth of footage from more than 20 years of following this story, as well as compelling footage from the 1950's and '60's showing life in Afghanistan before the war. The witnesses recall events and tell the story over time – they grow older through the film.

"We have been struck by how little of the history behind the terrorist headlines is finding its way to American audiences, " says Burroughs. American television is seduced by the ever-changing present, but no insight comes without understanding the past. A history that is not understood is one that will come back to cast a long shadow.

Director Jim Burroughs wrote a memoir on the making of the film entitled BLOOD ON THE LENS.