Dir/Co-wri: Martin Bourboulon | Cast: Roschdy Zem, Lyna Khoudri, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Christophe Montenez2025. France. 111mins.
French director Martin Bourboulon is best known for his spectacular action dramas: The Three Musketeers, Milady and D’Artagnon (2023), and Eiffel where there was tangible tugging of the heartstrings.
13 Days 13 Nights, is a cliched potboiler, by contrast, although significant in recording the true story of France’s successful attempt to rescue their own people and many Afghan citizens from Kabul when American forces pulled out in August 2021, the Taliban having gained control of the city on the 15th.
Roschdy Zem and Sidse Babett Knudsen lead the cast but the emotional impact is tepid with the French beating their nationalistic drum to a worthy self-congratulatory beat according to a viewpoint loosely based on a book by David Martinon, who was serving as French ambassador and is played here by Nicolas Bridet in a minor role.
Zem brings muscular integrity as Mohamed ‘Mo’ Bida, (who wrote the novel 13 Days 13 Nights). A seasoned elite French police officer and hero of the day he goes his own way that flies in the face of the usual protocol demanded by his responsibility as the head of police in charge of security at the French embassy, the last Western outpost to remain open.
Zem zips around in his dusty jeep issuing orders in masterful, ‘no holds barred’ action scenes. After rescuing a wounded Afghan who has been loyal to the French the two are then confronted by the Taliban on returning to the safety of the embassy. His mission – to reach the airport and transport five hundred or so people to the waiting aircraft, a dangerous task that involves grit and courage.
Babett is the martinet journalist peddling a feminist angle and desperate to file her side of the story back to the international media. To her credit she gainfully confronts the Taliban refusing to be put down despite their aggressive tactics. Zem orders another security officer Martin (Montenez) to open the gates to allow hundreds Franco-Afghans to streams through including dinky NGO worker Eva (Lyna Khoudri) who attempts to act as interpreter, all this competing with an incessant score by Guillaume Roussel. There are some stunning set pieces including one involving a suicide bomber who puts the cat amongst the pigeons, the rest is history. Decent but unremarkable compared to his usual fare. @MeredithTaylor
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