Review of Redacted (2007) by Felipe O — 28 Feb 2008

The war in Iraq has been theatrically marketed to Americans that seem to "just know" the reality of the war, certainly more accurately than CNN. Most of these films have been either well made or acted, but never provide anything substantial.

"Redacted" gives a fictional, documentary-style interpretation of American soldiers and their experiences in Afghanistan. My question, initially, was what does De Palma intend for his audience (Americans, mostly) to think about watching the men we send to liberate a country and rape one of that country's innocent civilians? - Notably, she was 15 and her family was massacred and her house set on fire the same night.

The acting in this film, it must be said, is really bad, really really bad. Interpretations vary, some finding the acting to be distracting and harmful, while some think the acting adds an aire of authenticity since scenes are not flawlessly executed. Me? I think it goes both ways, but it seems more logical to find it distracting, if nothing more than blaringly noticable.

De Palma obviously has strong feelings against the war, but now, seven years after its commencement, who doesn't? Shoud we be repulsed by a group of lonely, somewhat deranged and radical American soldiers? -For raping a child, of course, but this particular story does not, and should never, serve as representation of American presence in the torn countries of the Middle East.