Review of Restrepo (2010) by Chris O — 19 Jun 2011

I have now seen 3 out of the 5 documentaries nominated for an Academy Award this year. This is a personal achievement and probably beats out more than 90% of the American population. Just saying.

This may be the first time I have ever said this about a film, and it may be the very last time I say it: Restrepo is not long enough. two documentary filmmakers, Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington, spent an entire year filming the second platoon of battle company, 503rd infantry regiment in Afghanistan. If that wasn't dangerous enough, battle company is stationed in the Korengal Valley, one of the most hostile work environments on the planet. Quite a few insurgents live there and they don't like freedom. Through after battle interviews, real time firefights and in your face video the audience gets to follow the boys as they fight, kill and die in a war torn country. Restrepo refers to an outpost the soldiers built in the middle of insurgent activity and is an homage to their friend Juan "doc" Restrepo who was killed early on.

The filmmakers spend no time asking questions. We get an unadulterated account from the men themselves. Living as if there were no cameras involved at all. And we are privy to their private moments, the mental breakdown of a soldier after a leader gets shot down, and the adulation of them watching a direct hit on some bad guys.

But Restrepo doesn't have enough. With just a 93 minute running time, I was left wanting. I wanted to know more of the soldiers. I wanted to know more about their mission, how it eventually turned out, what's the situation today. And I wanted more footage of Restrepo, a driving force behind many of the men's attitudes. It is still a great film but I needed more footage to satisfy my desire to spend more time with the boys.

3 out of 4 stars.

-Christopher O'Connell.

Side Note: You may have heard Tim Hetherington's name thrown around, he was killed documenting the growing conflict in Libya.