When I went to find more information about the film Restrepo, I was shocked that it had won
awards. My experience was the complete opposite.
From the beginning, I tried to understand how this documentary
about soldiers fighting in Afghanistan was different from the rest. Stationed
in Korengal Valley, we are told that it is "one of the most dangerous postings
in the U.S. military." At this point, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, Restrepo ended up feeling tedious and
complacent.
There were a lot of ways in which I couldn't connect with the
subjects of this film. The filmmakers were clearly trying to give the audience
a raw experience of soldiers fighting against the Taliban, and while it worked
on some levels, it ultimately made each of the men appear cocky.
This, like many of the film's other problems, arises from how the
soldiers are portrayed. Half the time they didn't seem to know what they were
doing, and likewise the filmmakers bear a strong lack of organization. If I'm
going to spend the time watching a film, I'd like to know why a particular
topic matters; with Restrepo I'm
still scratching my head.
Additionally, Restrepo
failed to capture any real emotion. Obviously when a person has a camera in
their face, their decisions are altered, and those in this film weren't
affected any differently. War is devastating, that certainly can't be denied.
But Restrepo didn't tell that story.
It really didn't tell any story, and for that, this film is not worth watching.
