Aayush Sharma
‘Kandahar’ is a spy action thriller that chronicles the journey of Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), a CIA agent working to gather information about Iran’s nuclear program. Released in 2023, the film, written by Mitchell LaFortune, delves deeper into the life of a freelance undercover operative working on foreign soil while trying to save himself from the nation’s authorities. Initially, things went as planned, but everything turned upside down when the identity of the agent came out to the public, forcing him to go on the run. The production sheds a light on the perilous and unpredictable lives of secret operatives, where every mission feels like it could be the last one. As the story progresses, Tom realizes that the Iranian forces are not only after him, but international agents are also hunting him with their own agendas.
While Tom navigates the strenuous situation, he is not the only one facing such dangers. Mohammad, aka Mo, who works as a translator with the undercover agent, gets caught in the crossfire and risks everything to protect the mission. By featuring this aspect, it carefully portrays their bond and shared struggle, highlighting the often-overlooked sacrifices made by local allies in these high-stakes operations. Apart from that, it also showcases the grounded portrayal of espionage, survival, and political tension; it’s not hard to wonder what could have inspired the movie, giving the narrative more depth and making it look like the events could unfold beyond the screen.
Kandahar Highlights Mitchell LaFortune’s Real-Life Experiences in the World of Intelligence
Although the movie doesn’t tell the exact story of a single true event, ‘Kandahar’ is based on screenwriter Mitchell LaFortune’s real-life experiences as an intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The former intelligence officer enlisted himself through the College First program in 2005 and wanted to work in the field of intelligence. Almost a year later, he started basic training in the Army and went on to serve in the intelligence department. Before making his way to the DIA, he spent some time in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division, meaning he spent time in that part of the world before even becoming a part of the agency mentioned above. As his career progressed, he met many people during his deployment, which helped him write the project.
In an interview with We Are The Mighty, LaFortune explained how his first two and last deployments in Afghanistan made him realize he was ready to tell this story. LaFortune said, “The movie was definitely pulled from my first and second deployments, then the last two deployments to Afghanistan, where I was on the Iran border. I wanted to tell the story of how vulnerable you are as an American in a foreign combat zone.” But taking this story to the screen wasn’t easy, and it took him years to find the right team to bring the high-stakes world of ‘Kandahar’ to life. He finished writing the screenplay for the title in 2016, and at that time, the film was titled ‘Burn Run.’ It took five years before it finally moved into production in 2021. However, when Afghanistan began collapsing in the same year due to the U.S.’s withdrawal from the nation, he decided to modify the script.
He wove in his own experiences of working closely with Afghan interpreters or translators on the ground. “I just wanted to focus on the values that we all have, and at the end of the day, half a million veterans served in Afghanistan. Politics don’t matter; it’s about the people. I personally spent a decade focused on creating a better future for Afghanistan,” said LaFortune. Even though the project and the script mainly focus on a man trying to get himself and his translator out of the conflict, the screenwriter believes that this project is a tribute to the Afghan allies, interpreters, Special Forces, and veterans who dedicated themselves to a war that seemed never-ending. For him, ‘Kandahar’ is a way to honor their courage and sacrifice, as a gesture of gratitude to those who fought silently alongside him.
Kandagar Explores the Lives of Undercover Operatives with Authenticity
In the title, Tom Harris, a spy who works as a freelancer for the CIA, flees Iran after decimating one of the country’s nuclear facilities. He somehow gets out of the nation and meets one of his colleagues, Roman, in the UAE. Roman tells him that the operation is still ongoing and they are going to finish the job. However, he needs Tom to finish the mission and return home to his daughter. Tom reluctantly accepts and goes to Afghanistan to meet an interpreter named Mohammed, who is popularly known as Mo. He has been tasked to help Harris understand the local language. The CIA specially flew Mo in from the USA for the mission, but he is not just any other character because he has his own story.
Things start to worsen when Tom’s identity gets leaked in the media. The duo should stick together and make their way to Kandahar for a chance to escape the chaos. Through these characters, especially Tom, he wanted to show what happens when a cover is blown and an asset is forced to fight for his life in the open. LaFortune weaved a heroic story that draws deeply from his journey and experiences by showing that aspect. Moreover, during his deployment in the aforementioned country, he worked with an interpreter who lived in the U.S. and still wanted to do this dangerous work, driven by a deep love for his homeland. For LaFortune, Mo is not just any other character in the movie; he is the story’s emotional core. However, casting a character like Mo can be difficult.
Ric Roman Waugh Added Gravitas to Kandahar by Portraying The World of Espionage With Faithfulness
Casting an appropriate actor is one of the biggest aspects of this film. Filmmaker Ric Roman Waugh needed to show authenticity with these characters, especially Mo. Thankfully, the director met Navid Negahban and instantly cast him as Mo. The actor’s background became one of the main reasons the director chose him for the portrayal of an Afghan translator. Ric told Screenrant, “We knew Navid Negahban was always going to be Mo; he just brings so much emotion and humanity to his characters, and he lived this for real. He was a child refugee coming out of the Iran-Iraq war out of Tehran, so he knows what this was about, and he knows the regions, how they speak in the regions, so sometimes, he was a big help in finding people that were great discoveries.” Navid added a layer of authenticity to the film that few actors could match, drawing from his personal connection to the region and its history. His lived experience and deep understanding of the culture gave the character more depth and made it richer.
As a result, the story feels more genuine and grounded. On the other hand, the project delves deeper into the complexities of espionage. It shows how local and international forces constantly threaten to expose operatives and put their lives at risk. When Tom’s identity gets leaked, viewers are reminded of people like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, who exposed classified information about the U.S. and then tried to save themselves from capital punishment. Through its realistic depiction of the challenges faced by operatives, the production sheds light on the emotional and physical toll of living a life in the shadows. The dynamic between Tom and Mo adds depth to the narrative. In doing so, ‘Kandahar’ not only entertains but also prompts reflection on the unseen heroes navigating the complex world of international espionage.
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