Iraq documentary

[SonomaCat]

I saw two Iraq-related documentaries last week. I finally did see F-911 on Saturday night. Not to dwell too long on this one, but I thought it was about 90% crap and 10% interesting.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was at a screening for a documentary called "Gunner Palace" made by a guy who spent a couple months with the soldiers in based in the Palace that used to be Uday's love shack.

http://www.gunnerpalace.com/

It is shot primarily with handheld video cameras and doesn't have great production value as a result, but it really does tell an interesting set of stories about the soldiers, leaning heavily on the rap/poetry of many of the soldiers. The Q&A at the screening was very interesting. The guy was so apolitical that it was astounding. The crowd's questions (being in SF) were generally slanted towards wanting him to make some statement about the war itself, which the film doesn't really speak to (although you clearly come away from it being anti-war, which I think nearly every sane person on earth is -- although most people also weigh their anti-war feelings against the necessity of the war to make a decision on any particular war).

He said he didn't want the film to come out before the election as it would then be marketed for political reasons instead of artistic/storytelling reasons, and he even mentioned that it would probably never play in Europe because it was too sympathetic to the soldiers, and most theater-goers over there aren't interesting in that sort of thing.

So if you are interesting in a film that really shows a true slice of life in the trenches in Iraq, this is a very interesting film. It's the polar opposite of a Michael Moore film -- it's all about the subject matter (as opposed to the filmmaker) and is only interested in telling their stories through their own words. Nothing is staged, and everything is edited to give the subjects the most fair treatment possible.

It was very refreshing, but certainly not a happy movie.

[SonomaCat]

To get away from the MM stuff, this is an Iraq movie that truly has a lot of human interest value. It will truly educate people in ways that only being there in person can replace.

[Bleedinbluengold]

It was very refreshing, but certainly not a happy movie.

I can't recall seeing a war documentary that was happy. There is certainly a reason for the old saying, "war is hell."

My 2 nephews are involved, one in Falujah and one in Najaf. They are not happy to be there, but they do their job, and they do it well.

One of my best friends from college, was also there during both Gulf I and II. He's not happy about going, but he does his job well, also.

I'm glad they take their job seriously.

[UMfaninkazoo]

I ama big Republican and W supporter and I will say that I have had ones close to me go over to Iraq......does a soldier want to go to war?....no...if it calls for it they go....and they may not agree with it but they say it is their job.....