Our take
Retrograde takes place in early 2021 and captures the exact moment when the US troops exited Afghanistan, effectively leading to the Taliban takeover. With a fly-on-the-look approach, director Matthew Heineman reveals the cruel consequences of this sudden exit as the Afghan people (led by the charismatic General Sammi Sadat) scramble to defend themselves despite limited means and support. In this documentary, we’re privy to tactical military planning, civilian chaos, and even official Taliban gatherings.
It’s heartbreaking and chilling, another reminder of the human cost of war and the terrible need for genuine peace.
Streaming arrival
The story
The story of the last months of the 20-year war in Afghanistan through the intimate relationship between American Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.
Elsewhere
"There's a combined anxiety and monotony to it all, a feeling of boredom and exhaustion brought on by a decades-spanning conflict."
— Emma Stefansky
"Retrograde is a deeply mournful film, and the focus on humans is why."
— Sheila O'Malley
The details
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
