Restrepo

Restrepo (2010)
Directed by Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington

Restrepo tells the story of a platoon's fifteen month deployment in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, which was considered at the time to be the deadliest place on earth.
The film begins with footage shot by one of the soldier's as they were getting ready for deployment.  The soldier is PFC Restrepo, a field medic who is killed in a firefight in the first fifteen minutes of the film.  The platoon later captures a Taliban strategic point and builds an observation post named OP Restrepo in his memory.  The film then expertly shows the dichotomy of the battle against the Taliban.  The platoon would spend days doing nothing, and then insurgents would appear and the would be engaged in deadly firefights.
Aided by regularly interspersed interviews with the soldiers, the film gives a very raw and emotional look into the platoon's daily battle against the Taliban, both militarily and culturally.  Through Junger and Hetherington's skilled filming, the experience of watching the film is transcended into becoming part of the film.

5 out of 5 stars
Viewed May 2, 2012