Life in the Korengal Valley
Much has been written about the degree of truth depicted in last year's Oscar-winning "The Hurt Locker." While its account of soldiers defusing bombs in Iraq gave audiences an idea of the visceral mayhem of modern warfare, the film was, ultimately, a Hollywood fiction. As much as we celebrate the expert battle sequences in something like "Saving Private Ryan," there will always be a barrier between the audience and what really happens on the front lines.
The astounding new documentary, "Restrepo," goes where Hollywood fiction can't and takes the audience deeper into war than any film before it. It follows real soldiers in real battle, without any Hollywood politicizing or scripted dramatization.
It follows the men of Battle Company, 2nd of the 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team during a one-year period in Afghanistan. From May 2007 to July 2008, the men were stationed in the Korengal Valley, considered to be one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military at the time. While there, the men built and defended the strategic outpost Restrepo, named after the unit's medic, Juan Restrepo, who was killed in action during the first weeks of the platoon's deployment.
Reporters Sebastian Junger (author of "The Perfect Storm") and Tim Hetherington shot more than 150 hours with the soldiers while covering the war for Vanity Fair and ABC News. They spent months at a time with the soldiers, documenting experiences at Outpost Restrepo where the men faced gunfire as often as six times a day.
There is little narrative direction in "Restrepo." Post-deployment interviews allow the soldiers to reflect about specific incidents, but without voice-over narration or posturing from politicians or historians, the film is simply a snapshot of life in the sometimes-dull, sometimes-terrifying mountains of Afghanistan.
Some of the footage here is unbelievable, notably the horrifying aftermath of Operation Rock Avalanche, where the men are caught in an intense firefight. Watching them make snap decisions in the midst of a nightmare scenario is both sobering and unforgettable.
Other footage is less eventful but remains an insightful look at the more-interpersonal aspects of the war. One lingering plot strand - if you can call it that - follows the company's captain as he struggles to explain "the cow incident" to local elders. Some will rousingly agree with the captain's assessment of the war; others will argue that he's simply rationalizing what has become an increasingly pointless endeavor. The filmmakers offer no tip-offs. "Restrepo" is one of the few war films to go out of its way avoiding conclusions.
Regardless of all the opinions out there on the war in Afghanistan, "Restrepo" should be part of your conversation. No film can fully recapture the experiences of the men and women fighting overseas, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to understand as much as we can.
"Restrepo" opens today at the AMC Theaters at River Park Square in Spokane. The film, produced by National Geographic, will also air on television later this year.