Restrepo
RESTREPO is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, “Restrepo,” named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend a pre-screening of Restrepo in London. I duly toddled along to Soho House in Old Compton Street.
Once I had a glass of wine in hand I sat myself down in the private cinema there.
I wasn’t too sure as to what my reaction would be to this film given that I have many friends in the forces who have done several tours of Afghanistan and some who are currently deployed. Also the many people including serving and ex-forces personnel, who have been injured physically and mentally, that I work with through the charity Villas4Veterans.
The first thing for me is the length of US military tours of Afghanistan, they are anything from 13-15 months. This has to be unhealthy being in a combat zone for such a lengthy period, no wonder there are so many forces personnel suicides, certainly something that is brushed under the carpet and kept quiet here. No wonder so many suffer with PTSD.
I sat for 90 minutes watching the bravery, the emotion and the camaraderie of these men. It is incredibly difficult to explain how I felt on my journey back home, walking down Oxford St, on the tube, on the train so I am not going to try.
Go and see it and you will understand.
See the list of venue screenings here
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“No offense to Hurt Locker…but if viewers were going to watch one film about the experience of U.S soldiers…it would have to be Restrepo. Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington’s documentary feature captures the boredom, terror, and disorientation of a tour of duty in a remote and hostile district of Afghanistan in a way the slick Best Picture winner never could.”
“The footage itself is revelatory.”
— David Austin, CinemaStrikesBack.com
Check out the book Junger wrote about the outpost, called War. Gives a slightly more reflective view of the situation.