Gerard Butler, who is known for his sturdy and macho portrayals in the action films like the 300 series or the Has Fallen series, returns to the new action thriller movie Kandahar.
A two-hour tale of a doomed operation and the eventual escapade of our protagonist is the main crux of the film. Despite having a strong action star and some well-composed cinematography capturing the vast, rugged landscapes taken from the wild west imagery, the film lacks the essential emotional connection. The characters are too shallow to connect with, and the screenplay is too loose to even bind the shallow characters in a cohesive narrative.
This article is intended to talk about the film in detail with a complete explanation of the ending of the film. So, the readers are warned before reading this article from this point, as it will be filled with spoilers.
Kandahar (2023) Movie Synopsis and Plot Summary:
In the opening scenes of “Kandahar,” the story unfolds in Qom, an Iranian city, where CIA operative Tom Harris and his partner Oliver, disguised as mechanics for an internet service company, infiltrate a nuclear reactor plant. Their mission is to set up a device that allows the CIA to gather crucial data on Iran’s secret development of nuclear bombs. Despite growing suspicion from the Iranian guards, Tom and Oliver manage to evade capture and complete their task. Meanwhile, the CIA collects extensive footage of the nuclear reactor plant.
Tom Harris, a dedicated CIA agent, struggles to balance his commitments with his personal life. His wife, frustrated with his constant absence, pushes for a divorce, making it difficult for Tom to give his family the time and care they need. Despite his desire to attend his daughter’s graduation, Tom’s obligations as an agent prevent him from being the ideal husband and father.
After bidding farewell to Oliver, Tom heads to the airport, expecting a call from his handler, Roman. Meanwhile, an Iranian reporter named Luna Cujai gathers evidence implicating the CIA in the Qom bombing. The Iranian authorities, led by Army Colonel Asadi, kidnap Luna and force her to reveal details about the CIA operation. While they obtain pictures of Tom and Oliver, they fail to uncover their real identities. Asadi eliminates Oliver and sets his sights on Tom.
Tom receives a text from Roman, who assigns him a new mission in Afghanistan. Reluctant at first, Tom is convinced by Roman, who provides him with a substantial amount of cash for his daughter’s future. Roman introduces Tom to Mohammed “Mo” Doud, an Afghan translator who recently returned from the United States. Mo joins Tom on their journey to Herat, Afghanistan. Along the way, Mo reveals his personal mission to find his missing sister-in-law, who disappeared during the Taliban takeover. He also carries the deep trauma of losing his son in Afghanistan.
Unbeknownst to Tom, his face is exposed in the media, making him a target for both the Iranian government and the Pakistani ISI. With their lives at risk, Tom and Mo must reach Kandahar within thirty hours to secure a spot on a British SAS aircraft. However, they face threats from Iranian forces, the Taliban, and ISI agents led by Kahil Nasir.
Tom and Mo navigate through explosions, gunfire, and constant attacks as they flee Herat. They encounter a helicopter sent by Asadi but manage to bring it down. Taking shelter in a cave, Tom expresses gratitude to Mo and acknowledges the suffering of translators like him, who the CIA often overlooks. They continue their journey, seeking help from Ismail, the Tajik warlord responsible for Mo’s son’s death. Mo forgives Tom for unknowingly bringing him face-to-face with Ismail.
However, Ismail betrays Tom by informing the Taliban of their location. The Taliban captures them and holds them captive. The CIA loses contact with Tom, but Roman, who has joined the Afghan Special Forces, orchestrates a rescue mission. In the chaos, Roman sacrifices his life to save Tom and Mo.
Despite their grief, Tom and Mo must evade Kahil Nasir, who relentlessly pursues them. Surrounded by enemies, they prepare for their fate but are saved when the CIA orchestrates an explosion, eliminating the Taliban fighters. They reach Kandahar, where the British forces are waiting to evacuate them.
Tom and Mo return to the United States unharmed. Tom attends his daughter’s graduation, bringing a sense of relief to his family. Mo reunites with his wife and younger son, finding solace in their safe reunion. Asadi meets his demise, and Luna Cujai is released unharmed. The film concludes with a hint of ongoing geopolitical tension between Iran and Pakistan.
“Kandahar” ends on a hopeful note, with Tom and Mo finding their way back home. They promise to return to Afghanistan to search for Mo’s missing sister-in-law, while the geopolitical conflicts continue to simmer in the background.
Kandahar (2023) Movie Ending, Explained:
Do Tom and Mo Get Out in the End?
Towards the end of “Kandahar”, Tom and Mo get captured by the Taliban. They inform Kahil Nasir to take his package (Tom) from them. In the meantime, they torture both Tom and Mo. But soon, the Taliban realises that they are attacked by ISIS.
Actually, the Afghan Special Force pretends to be ISIS and attacks the Taliban with the help of Roman. Roman, now fighting alongside the Afghan Special Force, rescues Mo and Tom and drives them off toward the Kandahar air base. But on their way, they are hunted down by Kahil Nasir, and Roman dies in that showdown.
Amidst their overwhelming grief over Roman’s death, Tom and Mo found themselves devoid of time to mourn as Nasir relentlessly pursued them. Backed by his Taliban allies, Nasir cunningly encircled Tom from the south and east, tightening the noose around them. In a gripping face-to-face confrontation, Tom and Nasir clashed, but fate intervened, and a bullet struck Nasir. Yet, with enemies closing in from all sides, Tom and Mo felt resigned to their imminent demise, finding solace in one another’s embrace as they bid their final farewells.
However, at this decisive moment, the CIA chiefs boldly circumvented conventional authority and conceived a daring plan to eliminate the threat posed by the Taliban. Choosing to prioritize Tom and Mo’s survival, they orchestrated a meticulously calculated bombing of the Taliban vehicles. The resulting cataclysmic explosion engulfed the surrounding area, claiming the lives of the Taliban fighters and providing a glimmer of hope for Tom and Mo’s survival. Empowered by this newfound opportunity, they pressed forward and eventually reached Kandahar, where the eagerly awaiting British forces stood ready to receive them.
With a heavy heart burdened by the losses endured throughout their arduous journey, Tom hastily boarded the plane, his mind haunted by the indelible images of Oliver and Roman. Despite the weight of their sacrifices, both Tom and Mo understood the necessity of moving forward and returning home. In a heartfelt pledge, Tom vowed to Mo that they would retrace their steps to Afghanistan in search of Fathemah, ensuring that their commitment to finding her remained unyielding
