Restrepo
I don’t often write film reviews for my blog, however this time is different. Ive just finished watching the documentary Resrepo, by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger. Following an American Army company on deployment in Afghanistan in the Korengal Valley. Simply put it is one of the Best Documentaries I have ever seen. It has moved me as a viewer in a way that I very rarely am, you are placed right in the centre of fire fights ambushes and meetings with the local elders.
Over the past number of years we have become accustom to watching some truly visually stunning battle sequences in films such as The Hurt Locker and The Band of Brothers Series, but this was different as you were only given the point of view of the single camera never cutting to dramatic wides or to other angles. You only could watch from one point of view hidden behind cover watching the battle unfold. Within the opening minutes of the film you start in an Convoy which is hit by and IED and you are bundled out as you can hear the bullets and orders rattling around you. However then it suddenly cuts out, but not as much for dramatic effect but in the chaos of the battle the mic XLR had been pulled out the camera. Hitting you that when running for cover, audio becomes an optional extra.
However the film isn’t simply about fire fights and gun fire, it has been skilfully woven with interviews with the Soldiers reflecting on their time in the Valley and also with more intimate moments within the camp during down time which moved you from both laugher to just pure silence in respect for what these soldiers went though. These moments are what make the film in to a simply stunning piece of documentary filmmaking giving you an insight in to what it much have been like to be out in the valley.
I’m not going to say any more as I would want you to experience the same experience I went though watching it. If you haven’t seen it yet, then go out and find a copy sit down and watch it.
Heres the Trailer for it
Tom
Go Back in Time