Sand Castle

As the 2003 Iraq War rages on, Pvt. Matt Ocre (Nicholas Hoult) - a young civil affairs soldier with the Army Reserves - finds himself stuck in a never-ending cycle of conflict and chaos. Despite his initial reluctance to serve, which manifested in a frustrated attempt to get sent home by slamming his hand against a Humvee door, Ocre is soon deployed to Baghdad, where he experiences the harsh realities of war firsthand.

The film then jumps forward to a pivotal moment after the intense battle, when Ocre's squad receives their next assignment: repairing a broken water system in the treacherous village of Baqubah. As they arrive in the village, they meet up with a Special Forces unit led by Cpt. Syverson (Henry Cavill), who introduces them to their interpreter and explains their mission to fill a tanker with water at the pump station every day.

However, as they begin their work, it becomes clear that the villagers are not enthusiastic about lending a hand. Despite promises of payment for those willing to assist, the morning shift arrives empty-handed. With no labor forthcoming from the village, Ocre's squad is forced to take on the repairs themselves, braving the unforgiving desert landscape and treacherous terrain.

Their daily routine is disrupted by a series of unsettling encounters. On one occasion, they stop a speeding vehicle, only to learn that its driver - a desperate father - is racing against time to get his young daughter to another village in search of much-needed medical attention. On another, their convoy comes under attack from insurgents armed with small arms, who deliberately target the tank, leaving them with a trail of bullet holes.

As tensions simmer and violence erupts, Ocre's world is turned upside down when Sergeant Dylan Chutsky (Glen Powell) - his trusted comrade-in-arms - falls victim to the relentless barrage of gunfire. The stakes have never been higher as Ocre finds himself at the forefront of a pitched firefight, fighting for survival in a war zone where the boundaries between life and death are constantly shifting.

As Kadeer, the beleaguered school administrator (Navid Negahban), finally secures the vital resources needed to keep the local institution operational, the US squad begins to make tangible progress on their assigned mission. However, their momentum is abruptly halted when they return to the village to find Kadeer's lifeless body brutally displayed in the schoolyard, a stark reminder of the brutality that has taken hold in this war-torn region. The administrator's bereaved brother Arif (Nabil Elouahabi) shares crucial intel with Syverson, detailing the insurgents' secret meeting locations. This newfound insight sparks a swift and decisive counterattack, which successfully neutralizes several enemy operatives while capturing others. Unfortunately, the operation comes at a cost, as Cpl. Enzo (Neil Brown Jr.) and Sgt. Burton (Beau Knapp) suffer injuries that necessitate immediate evacuation by helicopter.

Meanwhile, the pump station's progress is short-lived, as it falls victim to a devastating suicide bombing perpetrated by one of the newly hired local workers. The blast claims numerous American and Iraqi lives, effectively wiping out all the hard-won gains made by the team. As the dust settles, Ocre and Harper return to their base in Baghdad, where they are met with a mix of good news and bad. Harper is granted three weeks' leave, while Ocre receives the bitter pill that he will be returning home. Despite his protests, Ocre's fate is sealed. Later that day, he is escorted to the airfield by Harper and Sgm. MacGregor (Tommy Flanagan), whereupon he boards a flight, his thoughts no doubt consumed by the destruction and chaos that has ravaged this once-thriving region. As he takes to the skies, Ocre can't help but ask MacGregor if it's a beautiful day for the infantry; receiving an enthusiastic affirmation, he departs on his journey home.