Iraq and Film

There have been numerous attempts to tell stories about the Iraq war through film. In fact, if "Iraq" is typed into imdb.com (internet movie data base), 256 hits appear, most of which are documentaries. Surprisingly, very few of these 256 films have lived up to any sort of hype that has surrounded them.

I remember leaving the movie theater after viewing the 2005 film Jarhead. Also attending the movie were some families from my church, one of which had a son in Iraq, fighting in the war. I also distinctly remember the reaction that this family had to Jarhead after viewing the film. They were upset... No... They were livid. Why? Because nothing happened in the movie, except a soldier's long walk through an oil field being covered in "America's gold". I think that the family was expecting the next great war epic... Especially with all the popular Vietnam tales that told of Americas heroic posture. However, Jarhead, and most of the movies created about Iraq are different. The posture is different.

Whitney and I view a little known movie last night that carries an intriguing story. It was called In the Valley of Elah and was probably the most engaging story that we have seen about the war. This movie, like other Iraq war movies, did not have a posture of confidence, but rather of humility.
But rather than leaning upon divisive political views, the movie told the story of a father (ex war hero) seeking to redeem the name of his son (embarrassed at war). The shift that occurred in the generation of army men was stunning. If you get a chance, please see this film, as I think that it is a fair image of the story of the war.