Kabul

The worst fears of the westernised Afghan NAZANY FAMILY come true when the Taliban march into Kabul. Parents ZAHARA NAZANY, a government prosecutor, and husband BAQIR know they are targets, so they want to get out fast. Their adult children AMINA, a trainee surgeon, and FAZAL, a young Afghan army soldier, commit to staying and resisting each in their own way.

When the Taliban drive American evacuation helicopters away from the French embassy, Gilles opens the embassy doors and Zahara and Baqir manage to get inside, but so does the dangerous Mohamad whom Zahara had formerly sent to prison. Baqir suggests Gilles could use a local school bus company to evacuate the embassy.

Baqir charters five school buses, so the French embassy evacuation to the airport begins. The Taliban have Zahara’s picture, so she is hidden in a car boot. Once she decides to leave, distraught Amina splits with unsupportive Ghulam, leaving the hospital with Nooria. No taxi will take them to the French embassy, so they go on foot, and miss the bus convoy.

Gilles and the French bus convoy are stopped by the Taliban. Both Zahara and Nangialay are petrified of being discovered in the car boot, but a nearby explosion saves them and the convoy continues. Fazal is fitted with an explosives belt for the Daesh ambush and learns the booby- trapped van is destined for the French convoy that includes his parents.

Amina phones Baqir to tell him she’s at the Abbey Gate. Baqir makes Zahara take the plane to safety - he and Amina will follow later. He exits by the Abbey Gate to find her. The furious Americans learn the French have smuggled Taliban chief Mohamad out. In the Daesh hideout, Ainullah is captured by American troops and realises he’s been betrayed.

In Doha and en route for Paris, Zahara learns about the Daesh attack at Kabul airport. She desperately rings Baqir and Amina, but gets no answer. At the Abbey Gate Baqir locates Amina and Nooria, but the explosion hits them all. Baqir disappears, and German soldiers rescue Amina and Nooria. Vera promises them safe passage to Germany.