REDEMPTION DAY

Morocco, 2021, 99 minutes, Colour.

Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan, Andy Garcia, Brice Bexter, Martin Donovan, Ernie Hudson, Robert Knepper, Sami Naceri.

Directed by Hicham Hajji.

This is a terrorist action story, most of the action taking place on the Moroccan-Algerian border. The writer-Dir is from Morocco.

The film is one of those stories where the action-hero of the day, whether it be Stephen Seagull, Jean-Claude van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger… Might have featured. This time it is the Canadian actor, Gary Della Dan. He is seen initially, in Syria, on a mission of accompaniment which is ambushed and he offers a heroic defence. The experience has consequences, especially in nightmares, when he returns to the states. He has a daughter, and his wife is an archaeology expert who gets a grant to explore a hidden city in Morocco.

The action moves quite quickly – not always plausibly. The wife and her group are abducted by Algerian terrorists, associated with Isis, when they inadvertently cross the border. They are held, tortured, and a ransom demand. When the hero gets the news, he immediately flies to Morocco, makes contact with a friend with whom it worked in the past, deals with the American Ambassador and the head of the CIA (Andy Garcia and Martin Donovan), almost immediately goes on a mission and rescue, getting local help, infiltrating a mocks, getting into the terrorists compound, confrontations. In the meantime, the American Pres is persuaded to endorse a covert operation, troops and helicopters. The expected battles take place, the confrontation with the terrorists, the rescue.

There is a critical epilogue to the film where the CIA are seen in conversations with oil interests and an indication that they have been plot complications during the rescue operation.

1. Title? The rescue mission? Achievement?
2. Popular ingredients of an action show, military operations in Syria, abduction in Morocco, Algerian terrorists, diplomatic interventions, personal mission, action and rescue? The writer-director and his Moroccan background?
3. The opening in Syria, the troops, the walk through the camp, introduction to Brad Baxter, the mission, the ambush, his heroism? His recurring nightmares and the action sequences?
4. Brad, at home, his marriage to Kate, their daughter, the domestic scenes? His tensions, dreams? Her being an archaeologist, her speech, the commission to go to Morocco, willing to stay home, later revealed to be pregnant? In Morocco, the team, going to the site, the ambush, the shooting, the group being taken hostage?
5. The terrorists, their leader, connections with Isis, money issues? Playing the Moroccan government, the Algerian government? The United Nations vote? The hideout, sinister? The prison cells? The various henchman? The traitor who was the driver, his being shot by the leader? The cells, Kate, tied up, the sympathetic young man learning English from American movies, his later help? The food? Being dragged to other cells? The Frenchman, in the truck, fear? His later being tortured? Kate and the Frenchman and the video? His throat being slashed on video? The demand for $10 million?
6. Brad, hearing the news, television, not telling his daughter, leaving her in the care of his father? Flying to Morocco, the visit to the ambassador, meeting Fitzgerald, his friendship with Laalej, their past and Brad saving his life? The discussions, the plan?
7. The ambassador, calm and cool, observations on his job? Fitzgerald, the CIA, plans? Objections? His having to collaborate? The later revelation at the end, the CIA collusion with oil powers? The contact with the president and his advisory staff? The president and his disturbed decision about the rescue?
8. Brad, with Laalej, driving, getting help to cross the border, disguise, at prayer, the weapons, the invasion of the house, the shootings, the rescue of Kate, the confrontation with the leader, their headquarters in about, Neo and the computer, the transfer of the money? The confrontation with the guns, action, the death of the leader?
9. The rescue, the troops coming in, fighting, rescue? Kate and Brad reunited?
10. The postscript, Fitzgerald and his meeting, the photos being taken? Knowledge and Moroccan security?
11. Popular action show? Plausibility? Credibility – or not?