Afghanistan. War correspondent Elsa Casanova is taken hostage by the Taliban. Faced with her imminent execution, a Special Forces unit is dispatched to free her. In some of the world’s most breathtaking yet hostile landscapes, a relentless pursuit begins between her kidnappers who have no intention of letting their prey escape them and a group of soldiers who risk their lives in pursuit of their single aim – to bring her home alive. This strong, independent woman and these men of duty are thrown together and forced to confront situations of great danger that inextricably bind them – emotionally, violently and intimately.
Practical Effects
Real mountain warfare shot on location in Tajikistan
Cinematography
Vertical landscapes that dwarf human conflict
Acting
Hounsou brings gravitas to underwritten hero role
Director
Stéphane Rybojad
Diane Kruger
Elsa Casanova
Djimon Hounsou
Commander Kovax
Benoît Magimel
Captain 'Tic-Tac '
Denis Ménochet
Captain Lucas
Raphaël Personnaz
Elias, sniper
Alain Figlarz
Victor
Alain Alivon
Marius
Mehdi Nebbou
Amin, Elsa's guide
Raz Degan
Ahmed Zaief, leader of the hostage takers
Tchéky Karyo
Admiral Guezennec
Morjana Alaoui
Maïna
Didier Flamand
Jacques Beauregard
Jacques Gallo
The 'Pacha'
Bernard Allouf
President of the Republic
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Diane Kruger performed her own climbing stunts after six weeks of alpine training; the French military initially refused to consult on the film.
This became one of France's biggest homegrown action hits specifically because it avoided American military glorification — the soldiers are exhausted, cynical, and questioning.
FR
