Review of Armadillo (2010) by Walter M — 30 Nov 2012

In the searing documentary "Armadillo," there is a controversy late in the film centering around a firefight from outside the platoon the movie has been following for months. What is implied strongly in the conversation is that unless you were there, you cannot judge the actions of soldiers in combat. This documentary about soldiers facing an unseen and respected foe is the next best thing, however.

"Armadillo" is largely filmed in 2010 at a forward base in Helmand Province in Afghanistan that houses 200 Danish and British soldiders. Unstated in this documentary is the fact that there is a draft in Denmark, so it is a little hard to judge who truly wants to be there, just as the immaturity of the soldiers show in their love of strippers, porn and video games.(There is a great cut from a violent video game to an outside scene illuminated by an infrared lens.) They are on a six month rotation to a war they did not start and will not finish. In the short time available, the soldiers try to make Afghanistan a better place for the natives living there who acknowledge their temporary status and do not all come out unscathed, like the soldiers seeking to protect them.