In 2010, the
Academy Award nominated war documentary, Restrepo,
provided audiences with a visceral look at the war in Afghanistan Korengal Valley
Although much of
the film is clearly made up of odds and ends that went unused in the first
film, combined with some new footage from the second platoon, it is clear that
Junger has much leftover to be said from the first film. Though many themes
from the first film are repeated, including more grieving for Private First
Class Juan Restrepo, there is much more focus on the thrill of firefights. To
an extent, the increased honesty from the soldiers this time around makes for a
more insightful journey, but one can’t help but wonder if there was a greater
film to be found from combining both features.
There are many
familiar faces from Restrepo in Korengal, as well as newcomers, but the
narrative is less interested in individuals as it is the mood of the
atmosphere. Soldiers describe both the feeling of adrenaline that comes with a
firefight and the huge letdown that comes once it has finished. Boredom is so
bad for some of them that they actually hope for an altercation to break up the
monotony of waiting. There are also different reactions from various soldiers
about the aftermath of their actions. While some rejoice in the act of shooting
down enemy soldiers, others question the moral ramifications of killing.
The DVD release comes with an optional
commentary track from Junger, as well as a special “Ted Talk” featuring the
filmmaker, discussing why veterans miss war once they have completed their
service.
Entertainment Value:
6.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment