15 Minutes of War (2019)
A tense, true-story military thriller about a daring French sniper operation to rescue children held hostage in 1976 Djibouti.
15 Minutes of War - Movie Information
- Original Title: L'Intervention
- Release Year: 2019
- Directed by: Fred Grivois
- Type: Movie
- Genres: War, Action, Drama, History
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: German, French, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 30, 2019 (France - U), August 2, 2019 (United States - NR), April 11, 2019 (Italy), May 10, 2019 (Spain), June 20, 2019 (South Korea - 15세 이상 관람가)
- Alternative Titles: 狙击猎杀：救援行动 (CN), 15 Minutes of War (US), 15 Minut Wojny (PL), Интервенцията (BG), 15ミニッツ・ウォー：2019 (JP)
- Production Companies: Capture The Flag Films, Playtime
- Production Countries: France
15 Minutes of War - Plot
February 1976. Somalian rebels hijack a school bus carrying 21 French children and their teacher in Djibouti City. When the terrorists drive it to a no-man's-land on the border between Somalia and French territory, the French Government sends out a newly formed elite squad to rescue the hostages. Within a few hours, the highly trained team arrives to the crisis area, where the Somalian National Army has taken position behind the barbed wire on the border. The French unit is left with very few options to rescue the hostages. As the volatile situation unravels, the French men quickly come up with a daring plan: carry out a simultaneous 5 men sniper attack to get the children and the teacher out safely. A true story.
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15 Minutes of War - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Fred Grivois
Main Cast
- Olga Kurylenko
- Alban Lenoir
- Sébastien Lalanne
- Michaël Abiteboul
- Vincent Perez
- Guillaume Labbé
- David Murgia
- Ben Cura
- Josiane Balasko
- Kevin Layne
Writers
- Fred Grivois
Producers
- Raphaël Rocher
15 Minutes of War - FAQs
Is 15 Minutes of War based on a true story?
Yes, 15 Minutes of War is based on a real event. In February 1976, Somalian rebels hijacked a school bus carrying French children in Djibouti. The French GIGN carried out a daring simultaneous sniper operation to rescue the hostages — one of the most audacious counter-terrorism missions in French military history.
What really happened during the Djibouti bus hostage crisis?
On February 3, 1976, members of the Front de Libération de la Côte des Somalis hijacked a school bus near Djibouti City. French GIGN snipers executed a simultaneous precision strike, neutralizing the terrorists in seconds. The operation is considered a landmark moment in the history of elite hostage-rescue tactics.
Who are the main actors in 15 Minutes of War?
The film stars Olga Kurylenko as negotiator Jane Andersen and Alban Lenoir as GIGN commander André Gerval. The supporting cast includes Vincent Perez, Sébastien Lalanne, Michaël Abiteboul, Guillaume Labbé, David Murgia, Ben Cura, Josiane Balasko, and Kevin Layne.
Where can you stream 15 Minutes of War?
You can stream 15 Minutes of War on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Hoopla, and Fawesome. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
What is 15 Minutes of War about?
Set in February 1976, the film follows a French elite unit deployed to Djibouti after Somalian rebels hijack a school bus with 21 French children aboard. With time running out and diplomatic options exhausted, five snipers must execute a perfectly synchronized strike to save the hostages — all in under 15 minutes.
What is the age rating for 15 Minutes of War?
15 Minutes of War is rated NR (Not Rated) in the United States. The film contains intense combat sequences, depictions of terrorism, and scenes of violence involving children in a hostage situation, so parental guidance is strongly recommended for younger viewers.
How long is 15 Minutes of War?
15 Minutes of War runs for 98 minutes — just under an hour and forty minutes. The film maintains a taut, relentless pace throughout, building tension from the initial hijacking all the way to the climactic sniper operation on the Somali border.
What movies are similar to 15 Minutes of War?
If you enjoyed 15 Minutes of War, you might also like Ambush (2023), Interceptor (2022), Wasp Network (2020), and The Killer (2024). For more hostage-rescue and military action films, Sniper: The Last Stand (2025) and The Codes of War (2025) are worth checking out.
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