Review of Restrepo (2010) by Xolve — 23 Sep 2014
There's something not right about this documentary.
It frames the soldiers as home-spun, good-natured boys with the bricks stacked against them in an almost-indefensible outpost in the middle of no-man's land. But no questions are ever answered.
What were they doing there in the first place, other than provoking the locals?
Was there any strategic reason to be there?
Why does the camera linger so much on scenes when they break down and cry for their fallen comrades, then offer little judgement or lingering on the counterpoint moments when they're joyfully gunning down the enemy, celebrating that they made their heads explode - in full knowledge that that soldier's parents are most likely just down the road from them?
How long can we hear about how demoralised, distraught and emotionally-scarred these soldiers are before we turn a single thought towards the people surrounding them?
In essence, this comes across, to me at least, as a politically-motivated propaganda piece in the guise of a non-authorial documentary.
For all that, it is interesting - but seldom compelling.
This review of Restrepo (2010) was written by Xolve on 23 Sep 2014.
Restrepo has generally received very positive reviews.
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