Restrepo

With U.S. involvement in Afghanistan once again front-page news—due to a dramatic change of command and increasing casualty rates—viewers will be drawn to this stunning fly-on-the-wall documentary, which illustrates what the combat experience is actually like for American soldiers. Restrepo is co-directed by journalist-author Sebastian Junger (War) and photographer Tim Hetherington, who traveled to the Korengal Valley at various times during 2007-08 to film members of the Second Platoon, Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Operating from a remote camp in the dangerous eastern mountain region, the men are seen digging in, enduring sniper fire, engaging with locals, and going on reconnaissance missions. Along the way, the platoon suffers casualties, including the death of Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, a medic whose name the squad gives to a smaller outpost built—with great difficulty—on a strategically useful ridge. Interweaving tension-filled episodes of combat action with day-to-day roughhousing and simple boredom, the filmmakers also insert excerpts of interviews with survivors after their deployment ended. Restrepo is not a political film (no one discusses American policy in Afghanistan), but rather a harrowing, deeply troubling, and thought-provoking look at the lives of soldiers in war. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include extended interviews (25 min.), deleted scenes (20 min.), a “Sleeping Soldiers” photo montage (5 min.), text updates on the soldiers, PSAs, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning doc.] (F. Swietek)