The film is inspired by true events, setting the stage in 2006, where Kim Baker (Tina Fey) finds herself at a raucous party in Kabul, Afghanistan, surrounded by military personnel while the distant sounds of bomb blasts punctuate the atmosphere. As the excitement continues, the party is abruptly interrupted when news of a recent bombing spreads, leading to a chaotic scramble for information. Frustrated with the sudden loss of communication, Kim dons a flak jacket, helmet, and her news jacket, braving the streets with her satellite phone, seeking to connect with her New York office while witnessing local rescue efforts firsthand. Amid the chaos, she finds herself confronting a local man in a heated exchange, only for her cell phone to lose signal, prompting her to express her frustration skyward.
The narrative shifts back three years to New York City, where Kim is stuck in a cubicle, working as a copywriter for a news station. With a group of single, childless colleagues, she learns they are being dispatched to cover the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Her boyfriend, however, is not pleased with her decision to leave everything behind to become an international war correspondent.
Upon her arrival in Kabul, Kim is met at the airport by Nic, her assigned security detail, and a local guide named Fahim, who quickly becomes a trusted friend. A local woman’s harsh words about her attire highlight the cultural differences awaiting Kim, but Fahim reassures her that the woman was extending a greeting. In her new accommodations, Kim meets her colleagues, including Tall Brian, a cameraman, and Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie), a sassy reporter from London. When Tanya mentions her interest in sleeping with the security staff, Kim reminds her of her relationship back home, leading Tanya to quip that Kim may only be a 6 in New York, but here she’s a 9.
As they navigate life in Kabul, Kim and Tanya become fast friends, spending time with a local woman, Shakira, who humorously explains the meaning of her name, and teaching Fahim about women through popular magazines. At a function hosted by the U.S. Embassy, Tanya dismisses an admirer rather boldly, while Kim navigates the politics of military interviews. She meets General Hollanek (Billy Bob Thornton), who sets the tone for their relationship by cautioning her against distracting his Marines during their missions.
During one routine military operation, Kim throws herself into the fray, filming a firefight despite Fahim’s desperate attempts to pull her back to safety. Following a series of misadventures, including interviews with locals and a local politician named Ali, Kim finds herself drawn deeper into her reporting, ultimately prioritizing her career over her personal relationships, including her boyfriend back home.
After being introduced to the perils of their surroundings, Kim faces various challenges, including a crisis involving a wounded Tanya after a violent ambush that leaves a friend dead. Torn between guilt and ambition, she grapples with her motivations and the risks she imposes on her team. As she moves through her chaotic life in Kabul, she engages in fleeting romantic encounters, one of which complicates her friendship with Tanya and raises questions about her feelings for Iain MacKelpie (Martin Freeman), a photographer.
As the story progresses, the stakes rise with Iain's mysterious disappearance, prompting Kim to return to Kabul after briefly leaving to explore the possibility of a relationship with him. She navigates a complex web of personal and professional priorities, using her journalistic instincts to find him. The film culminates in a heartfelt farewell as Kim decides to leave her life in Afghanistan behind, moving towards a fresh start in D.C. or New York for a new chapter.
In the concluding scenes, we see a flash-forward to Kim, now a reputable news anchor ready to interview Iain about his newly published book, with a sense of optimism hinting at a potential reunion. The journey through war-torn Kabul becomes a powerful metaphor for Kim’s growth as a person and a journalist, leaving audiences reflecting on the complex interplay of personal ambition and human connection.
