Aahana Swrup
‘Exterritorial’ brings a fast-paced, high-concept story about a mother who earns a target on her back for refusing to leave a hostile Consulate Embassy after her son vanishes within the Agency. Sara Wulf, a former special forces soldier, drives the narrative as the protagonist, who arrives at the local US Consulate with her six-year-old son, Josh, to move her migration process along. Nonetheless, this trip soon turns into a nightmare when the young boy goes missing, with everyone, including the security official, Eric Kynch, insisting that there is no proof that a kid entered the premises with Sara.
As a result, once backed into the corner, the mother decides to take matters into her own hands, bringing an unexpected storm to the Agency. In the process, she inadvertently unravels a can of worms around her own past. Despite the action-heavy premise of this Netflix German movie, Sara’s character and her nuanced experiences as a veteran and a mother remain deeply rooted in authenticity. Naturally, this attracts a certain air of intrigue to the character and her off-screen actress.
Jeanne Goursaud Portrays the Role of Sara Wulf in Exterritorial
As the tale’s protagonist, Sara Wulf remains a grounding force in ‘Exterritorial,’ setting and maintaining the film’s tone and voice. Jeanne Goursaud, the German-French actress with an impressive filmography under her belt, does a remarkable job of bringing this character to life. The actress is best known for her past collaborations with Netflix across a number of projects. She has showcased a penchant for the action genre through projects like ‘Pax Massilia’ (also known as ‘Blood Coast’) and ‘Barbarians.’ Goursaud personified central characters in these shows, portraying memorable roles of Police Captain Alice Vidal and Germanic warrior Thusnelda, in each project, respectively.
However, even earlier, Goursaud left a mark and cultivated a fan base for herself through career-defining works like ‘Para – We Are King,’ a 2021 coming-of-age show revolving around four best friends, and the 2018 Clint Eastwood directorial ‘The 15:17 to Paris.’ Thus, since her TV debut in 2012, her career and artistry have only continued to blossom. In ‘Exterritorial,’ the actress infuses her performance with a unique sense of vulnerability that underlines her identity as a mother while also exuding a sense of strength and grit, befitting a war veteran. Consequently, Goursaud perfectly rounds out Sara Wulf’s harsh edges and relatable quirks on the screen. As the actress’ career continues to flourish, fans of her work can look forward to catching her in the much-anticipated Helmut Ditsch drama film ‘Helmut.’
Sara Wulf is a Fictional Character Who Highlights the Reality of PTSD Among War Veterans
The storyline of ‘Exterritorial’ is largely a work of fiction, penned by screenwriter/director Christian Zübert. As a result, the various narrative-driving elements within the story also remain confined within the fictitious world. Sara Wulf, the protagonist, is no exception and retains the same level of fictionality as the film. In real life, there are no records of a veteran mother who had to enter a fight of her life in order to save her kidnapped son while uncovering a ground-shaking conspiracy. Nonetheless, even though her central plotline is fictitious, Sara’s character finds grounding roots in some aspects of reality.
Throughout the film, Sara’s experience with PTSD and its negative manifestations in her life presents a primary source of conflict. During her stationing in Afghanistan, the German soldier underwent a drastically traumatic incident when she and her squad were ambushed in the middle of a mission. The ambush led to a bloodbath, which killed eight soldiers, leaving Sara as the sole survivor. As a result, the veteran sports a dark past, which continues to color her present through psychological complications. In real life, PTSD continues to be a prevalent issue in the lives of former soldiers, especially those who oversaw deployment. As per studies, as much as 30% of veterans who were a part of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, in particular, have developed PTSD.
Other research showcases similar results, indicating that approximately 14% to 16% of US veterans who were deployed in the same wars have experienced the effects of PTSD and/or depression. On the other hand, when it comes to the lived experiences of German soldiers, who share more real-life resonance with Sara, 117 veterans were registered to have developed PTSD. 39% of these former soldiers served in missions abroad. As such, even though Sara’s on-screen experiences, particularly in relation to the film’s base storyline, remain suspended in fiction, her overall character holds onto a level of realism that extends beyond the story. The same, paired with her authentically distraught characterization as a mother with a missing kid, ensures that she stays rooted in reality despite her fictional origins.
Read More: Exterritorial Ending Explained: What Happened to Josh? Is He Real?
