Kandahar (2023)
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A CIA operative and his translator must navigate a perilous escape through Afghanistan after their covert mission is exposed.
The story
Tom Harris, a freelance undercover operative for the CIA, successfully inserts malware into a secret Iranian nuclear research facility, causing it to self-destruct. However, his cover is blown when a British journalist receives evidence of the sabotage. While attempting to leave Iran, Harris's partner is killed. Harris meets with his handler, Roman Chalmers, in Dubai and accepts a new contract in Herat, Afghanistan. Upon arrival, news of his previous actions leaks, forcing Harris and his Afghan-American translator, Mohammad "Mo" Doud, to flee toward an extraction point in Kandahar while being hunted by Iranian and Pakistani security forces.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Tom Harris, a CIA operative, successfully sabotages an Iranian nuclear facility, but his identity is exposed after a British journalist, Luna Cujai, is abducted by Iranian agents. After his partner Oliver is killed, Tom meets his handler, Roman Chalmers, in Dubai. Tom takes a new job in Herat, Afghanistan, but the news of his previous sabotage leaks, blowing his cover. Roman directs Tom and his translator, Mo Doud, to flee to Kandahar. They are pursued by Iranian Colonel Farzad Asadi and ISI agent Kahil Nassir. During the escape, Tom kills Farzad in a helicopter crash. They seek help from an Afghan warlord who provides a vehicle but eventually sells them out to the Taliban. Roman joins the mission, masquerading as an ISIS-K unit to rescue them. In a final confrontation, Roman is mortally wounded while buying time for Tom and Mo. A CIA-ordered missile strike clears the path, allowing Tom and Mo to escape on a British military cargo plane. The journalist is released, and Tom and Mo reunite with their families.
- Original title
- Mission Kandahar
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ric Roman Waugh
- Writers
- Mitchell LaFortune · writer
- Cast and characters
- Gerard Butler · Tom Harris; Navid Negahban · Mohammad "Mo" Doud; Ali Fazal · Kahil Nasir; Bahador Foladi · Farzad Asadi; Nina Toussaint-White · Luna Cujai; Vassilis Koukalani · Bashar Hamadani; Mark Arnold · Mark Lowe; Tom Rhys Harries · Oliver Altman
- Genres
- spy action thriller
- Themes
- Espionage; Survival; Sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Tense
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on actual events; CIA; Action; Thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- Burn Run (spec script) based on Mitchell LaFortune's experiences with the Defense Intelligence Agency.
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews from critics, while audiences gave it a 'B+' grade on CinemaScore and a 75% positive score on PostTrak.
- Reported review scores
- CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 75%
- Production trivia
- It was the first big-budget U.S. feature to shoot in Saudi Arabia's Al-Ula and Jeddah.; The film was retitled Kandahar from its original title Mission Kandahar in Canada.; Gerard Butler also served as a producer for the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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