A ‘heartbreaking’ documentary examining the consequences of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan following two decades of conflict is now streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Escape from Kabul, released in 2022 and helmed by director Jamie Roberts, is an HBO documentary that chronicles the turbulent 18-day US troop evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021.
The film features exclusive footage and testimony from US Marines, Taliban commanders and Afghan civilians, capturing the frantic and high-stakes mission to evacuate more than 124,000 people from Kabul airport amid the swift Taliban seizure of the capital.
Representing the largest airlift in modern US history, the documentary also includes harrowing accounts from Afghan citizens desperately trying to escape.
Their stories detail the struggle to reach the airport – their final chance to leave the country before the widely dreaded Taliban assumed control – and the devastating aftermath, including the ISIS-K suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 13 US military personnel and over 170 civilians, as well as the final US departure, reports the Mirror.
Directed by Jamie Roberts and executive produced by Dan Reed, the team behind Four Hours at the Capitol, this eye-opening examination of the Kabul events showcases previously unseen footage from the ground, including mobile phone recordings from refugees and Taliban fighters, accompanied by first-hand interviews about the profound impact.
The documentary has garnered acclaim for its unflinching depiction of the humanitarian catastrophe and the enormous strain endured by both military personnel and civilians throughout the evacuation.
The film’s significance hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst audiences, achieving a perfect 100 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes alongside glowing five-star appraisals.
One viewer posted: « I am not one to watch documentary, but after watching Escape From Kabul, i truly love this documentary it tells of eyes of the people who lived the last few days of the American in Afghanistan after 20 years of war. »
Another said: « A heartbreaking film on the days of the American exit after 20 + years of War in Afghanistan. »
A third added: « I had no idea people trying to get out of Afghanistan went through this much suffering. Definitely an interesting watch.
« One of the best documentaries. Excellent real time footage, » praised a fourth.
Someone else wrote: « An incredible look at a terrible situation. It was honest and jaw dropping. Every American should watch how this humanitarian tragedy went down.
« Escape from Kabul is a well constructed documentary that serves as a testimony of the last chapter of the USA war in Afganistan where desperation and optimism, for those who were able to leave the country, comes together in bittersweet ending, » observed another.
Escape from Kabul is now available on BBC iPlayer.
