Where Soldiers Come From

Filmmaker Heather Courtney's Where Soldiers Come From follows young men from Michigan's Upper Peninsula who sign up for state National Guard service while also anticipating military rotation for nine months in U.S.-occupied Afghanistan. A $20,000 payout and promise of college-tuition aid are the lure, rather than post-9/11 fervor. Courtney focuses on a modern day band of brothers who are working-class friends, particularly aspiring artist Dom Fredianelli and his easygoing buddy Cole Smith. After arrival in Afghanistan the cinema vérité-style narrative follows the young men, who wonder if they are going to kill another human being or not. Along the way, a convoy headset conversation straight outta Quentin Tarentino—mocking "hippie" film festivals—is interrupted by a bomb attack; the election of Barack Obama is viewed by the Smith family back home with “hope”; and both Dom and Cole return home scarred physically and psychologically—angry at the world (Cole especially) and undergoing PTSD therapy. Although this is no recruiting film (battle heroism is "all a bunch of bullshit"), it avoids obvious blaming and finger-pointing politics, making it a powerfully realistic portrait of contemporary soldiers in war. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)