13 jours, 13 nuits

F Watchlist

When the Taliban seized power again in Afghanistan in 2021 and the Americans hastily withdrew, the French embassy in Kabul was the last bastion of Western powers in the metropolis of 5 million people. After heated internal debates, it opened its doors to around 400 people seeking to flee the country. For 13 days and nights, it negotiated with the new rulers to allow its protégés to leave and escort them to the besieged airport. The political thriller of the same title is based on the memoirs of French police commander Mohamed Bida, who was responsible for the safety of the people. During the negotiations with the Taliban, he teamed up with a young French woman who had been working for an aid organization in Afghanistan for a long time and was coerced into translating at the risk of her life. Roschdy Zem lends his powerful presence to this strong-nerved brawler, while Lyna Khoudri gives the translator some touching scenes about human fragility in the face of inscrutable circumstances and unpredictable opponents. 13 jours, 13 nuits is essentially a classic heroic epic and balm for the battered Grande Nation, to be sure. But which film industry in Europe, if not the French one, can stage such material with such credible scenes of chaos and crowds in such a gripping way? Director Martin Bourboulon has already shown with Eiffel and most recently with the two-part Les trois Mousquetaires that he knows how to serve up a big helping. With this political thriller, he surpasses himself.