Kabul Falling
5.0/5
Critic Rating
William Veres is in trouble. In 2018 he was arrested following the largest ever investigation by the Italian police’s art squad. They accuse him of running a pan-European art-smuggling ring with ties to the Sicilian mafia. He is alleged to have stolen $40 million worth of art and antiquities from Italy. Charged with 14 counts, including money laundering, forgery, wire fraud and conspiracy, he faces a jail term of up to 20 years. But he has a plan to get out of trouble. In this four-part podcast, host Simon Willis follows him as he puts that plan into action. It’s a story that...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Fiona Sturges • Financial Times • Aug 14, 2022
"The detail here is remarkable: we hear about the WhatsApp conversations with outside contacts trying to assist those fleeing; the whispered exchanges between husbands and wives shielding their children from their anxiety...By the time he arrived, with his feet bleeding into his sandals, and was reunited with his son, I was a weeping mess."
Score: 5
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Aug 13, 2022
"Kabul Falling doesn’t feature any commentary from foreign policy wonks or academics – instead it’s all real stories from real people, and I think the show is better for it. The stories are vivid and visceral...The show also has a cinematic feel to it, with extensive use of atmospheric sound and an evocative soundtrack."
Score: 5
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian • Jul 28, 2022
"From the immersive sound of people trying to board a flight to a man who walked for eight hours in blistering heat to collect his son, the human stories are powerful."
