Film Review- Restrepo

Just a few weeks ago on April 20th, Tim Hetherington, the director of this documentary about the war in Afghanistan, was killed while documenting another conflict, the civil war in Libya.  During the same attack by government forces against rebels in Misrata Chris Hondros a world famous photographer was also killed.     Wars always have casualties and that is a major theme in this film which takes place at a remote firebase which soldiers named after one of those casualties- a buddy of theirs killed in action earlier during their tour of duty, PFC Juan Restrepo.     

The difficulty and complexity of the job that soldiers do in Afghanistan is shown in various ways throughout this film, including combat and firefights, but also in trying to communicate with locals, living in difficult conditions, day to day boredom and missing home.   The bond and camaraderie of the men shine throughout.  At times this film is very moving.  I’m a big fan of the documentary genre because it captures real life instead of the dramatized version that you see in Hollywood movies.  Real life can be dirty, awkward, confusing and completely unpredictable and this is a story about such events in the lives of US troops on the front lines in the remote and dangerous Korengal valley.   

Restrepo is not for shallow action movie junkies, though it has its share of action.  The real value of this film is in its authentic depictions and honest descriptions from the soldiers about what they were thinking, feeling and experiencing while far from western civilization and a world away from home in a third world combat zone in Southwestern Asia.   It is a much needed reminder of what soldiers continue to experience daily, monthly and yearly in this decade long, ongoing conflict.

Buy Restrepo at Amazon.com:
Restrepo [Blu-ray]