Bombhunters

Bombhunters is a captivating and profoundly enlightening documentary based on an unusual but very real activity, the hunting, and selling of unexploded bombs. Set in Cambodia, this astounding 2006 film directed by Skye Fitzgerald explores the dangerous underbelly where locals risk their lives scraping out an existence by scavenging for unexploded munitions left behind from previous wars — including the Vietnam War and the subsequent civil war that engulfed the nation.

The film tells an incredible and nail-biting story of survival against daunting odds, painting a vivid picture of the lingering consequences of war and the relentless will to live in the face of adversity. Through chilling, firsthand accounts and expert commentary, the documentary provides a deeply personal view into a world far removed from everyday life in the western hemisphere.

The historical context in which the film is rooted is crucial to its understanding. Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, was an important theatre during the Vietnam War, in which the United States extensively bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail passing through the country. The subsequent civil war subjected the country to further bouts of bombing. Post-war, unexploded ordnance (UXO) remaining in the regions has become an unfortunate bounty for the locals who scavenge these to make ends meet, risking their lives in the process.

Bombhunters provides a close-up view into the lives of the bomb hunters, the dangerous nature of their work, and the socioeconomic circumstances that force them into this deadly enterprise. The film shows how these munitions, originally intended for causing mass destruction, are now being recycled and used heavily in the day-to-day lives of Cambodia’s rural population — in building homes, irrigation systems, and even in fishing. These bombs have become a fundamental part of the Cambodian life and economy, for better or for worse.

In addition to the bomb hunters themselves, the film also includes interviews with humanitarian demining organizations who offer insight into the perilous state of things on the ground and the efforts being taken to mitigate the situation. This peculiar industry, although staked with danger and fraught with potential accidents, births a bittersweet tale where life overcomes death, and hope steals away from the jaws of despair.

One of the intriguing takeaways from the documentary is its articulation of the drastic contrast between western understanding, or lack thereof, of the legacy of wars fought decades ago, versus the stark reality faced by the civilians living in these affected regions. In this way, Bombhunters also serves up an element of social critique and brings to the fore, the importance of international war accountability.

Skye Fitzgerald's direction provides a balanced and grounded perspective throughout the film. Employing candid interviews and raw footage, the documentary maintains a steady momentum, thrusting the viewers on a heartrending journey that is populated with inspirational characters who are marginalized and largely forgotten, yet display an invincible spirit. Fitzgerald’s style marries a journalist's inquisitive approach with a storyteller's aesthetics, which makes the reality of bomb hunting in Cambodia accessible to a global audience.

At the end of the day, Bombhunters is a heavy but worthy watch that exposes the audience to the harsh consequences of warfare that continues to haunt long after the guns have grown silent. Much more than a war documentary, it's an anthropological study of a society forced to adapt amidst adversity and strive against the odds.

Describing the realities of a hard-pressed community who survive in the shadows of war, Bombhunters serves as a poignant example of the resilience of human spirit and underlines the cyclical nature of violence and survival. As real as it is shocking, Bombhunters is a powerful documentary that spotlights a part of contemporary history shoved under the carpet, highlighting a very different, but equally impactful realm of war casualties.

Despite the grim and heartbreaking circumstances detailed, Bombhunters leaves viewers with a renewed appreciation of life’s valiant survival amidst the harshest of trials. Although a snapshot of a marginalized and largely unacknowledged corner of the world, its message travels across cultures and geographical boundaries, serving as a wake-up call to the enduring and pervasive impact of warfare on innocent lives.