Battle for Haditha showing at Film Forum
Nick Broomfield’s documentary-style film weaves a 360-degree story around the Haditha killings of November 2005 in Iraq. He’s put together a great cast of non-actors, mostly featuring former US Marines and Iraqi refugees in Jordan, where the movie was shot on location. Not referring to the explicit language, I found the conversations to be blunt and lacking subtleties, but you’ll find plenty of nuances in the complicated folds of the story itself. Besides, it seems Broomfield was going for rawness (there was a lot of improvisation involved), and through the events surrounding one incident, the jab is at a bigger truth. Bigger truths just happen to make perfect stories, but I suppose you’ve got to compress the lines if you’re going to get anywhere near?
Former US Marine Elliot Ruiz gives an incredible performance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the QA with him and Broomfield (can you believe it)! Film Forum is showing the movie through May 20.
Leave a Reply
Comments not adhering to Lifehacker's commenting etiquette, especially the mean-spirited ones and the arguments they generate, will be deleted. But sincere criticism and links to related content are more than welcome, thanks.