Retrograde

In January 2021, US President Joe Biden announces that the American army is withdrawing from Afghanistan after 20 years. Filmmaker Matthew Heineman followed at close range the ensuing turbulent nine-month period of withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power. Ever observant, his camera follows the American unit at Camp Shorab and the Afghan generals they work with, as well as civilians forced to flee. The result is a harrowing cinematic testimony of the times that could hardly be more topical and poses the question: Was this mission worth it?