Review of Restrepo (2010) by Joel M — 19 May 2011

Co-Directors Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger's gripping Oscar- nominated documentary "Restrepo" does not rest in exhibiting a US Army platoon in deployment fighting for their lives and their country in a deadly valley in Afghanistan. And that valley happens to be one of the most dangerous places on earth, the Korengal Valley; which is inhabited by a Taliban ready to maliciously strike American soldiers at any cause. These Taliban scumbags even put their wives and sons for cover when confronted by American soldiers in battle so the Americans can cease fire. Hetherington and Junger spent a year with the platoon in the Korengal Valley depicting the soldiers' lives in a treacherous land. The platoon build an outpost in the Korengal called OP Restrepo, named after Juan "Doc" Restrepo; who was a soldier in their platoon who unfortunately was killed in the line of fire early during their deployment. And of course, who the documentary was also named after. Juan "Doc" Restrepo was a Columbian-American who grew up in Pembroke Pines, located in South Florida. The documentary's first scene shows a confident and bit tipsy Restrepo filming his platoon mates and himself with a hand-held camera in an Italian train, just weeks before their deployment. Hetherington and Junger don't shy away in filming low points of a soldier's daily life in rigorous battlegrounds in "Restrepo". Those scenes provoke an even greater appreciation in admiring our soldiers. Moreover, it made me want to slap myself silly why in the world I got ticked off at that driver that cut me off this afternoon. I hope you know the point I am driving at. Hetherington and Junger also interview the soldiers a year after their Korengal tour-of-duty; and through their retelling of the Korengal nightmare, it actually becomes the documentary's primary narration in a documentary that has no voice-over narration. "Restrepo" is very difficult to watch at times because of the profound authenticity of it all, but nevertheless should be watched by all, especially teenagers. Not so much to invoke the "war is hell" message to teens but to provide them a humane appreciation lesson. Sadly enough, Tim Hetherington was recently killed in Libya while filming conflict there. Hetherington was an acclaimed photojournalist besides being a documentarian. As a brave solider, he also risked his life for his country; but he did it in order for individuals to get a clearer picture on the atrocities of modern-day war. And like Juan "Doc" Restrepo and other brave soldiers who risk their lives for their country, Tim will not be forgotten, and neither should his co-directed documentary "Restrepo".

**** Good.