Korengal

Korengal is a 2014 war documentary directed by Sebastian Junger that takes an uncompromising and intimate look at the life of soldiers on the frontline of the Afghan War. It chronicles the experiences of the men of Battle Company, specifically the Second Platoon, who are stationed in an outpost called Restrepo in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military.

Serving as a sequel to 2010's Oscar-nominated war documentary Restrepo, Korengal takes viewers deeper into the soldiers' daily lives, depicting the reality of war in raw, unfiltered footage. The film features veterans from the original Restrepo crew, including LaMonta Caldwell, Miguel Cortez, and Stephen Gillespie, along with other members of the Second Platoon. Korengal offers no flashy special effects or glorification of war, instead focusing on the gritty actions of the brothers-in-arms as they deal with constant threat, harsh conditions, and often convoluted objectives.

Director Junger, who filmed the soldiers over the course of a year, presents an honest and visceral portrayal of the soldiers' experiences. The film incorporates heart-pounding scenes of intense firefights, gut-wrenching moments of loss, camaraderie, tension, and also light-hearted moments amidst the chaos. The Korengal Valley, considered to be one of the deadliest places on earth during the Afghan War, serves not just as a backdrop, but as a silent character that continuously challenges the soldiers.

One of the most powerful aspects of Korengal is the after-action interviews Junger conducted with the soldiers following their deployments. These interviews provide a profound look into the psychological impact of war on young men. The audience will witness a range of emotions from these soldiers — guilt, pride, rage, exhilaration, and even regret. Korengal delves deeply into these themes that go beyond the physical violence and harshness of the battlefield, aiming to underscore the often-overlooked psychological toll of war.

The film bolsters its narrative through realistic footage paired with candid interviews that shed light on the soldier's perspective of war. As the audience, we are made privy to the soldier's inner thoughts, reflections on camaraderie, their experiences with the horrors of war, and their struggle to readjust to home life following deployment, reflecting the reality of the "soldier's heart" condition, now clinically recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In addition to the emotional confessions and raw battle scenes, Korengal is also interspersed with stunning visuals of Afghanistan's landscape. These stunning, panoramas of the rugged terrain provide a stark, but fitting contrast to the harsh realities of the war being fought on its soil.

Where its predecessor Restrepo aimed to provide a straight-forward, action-based view of war, Korengal delves deeper into the psychology of soldiers and the myriad impacts their surroundings have on them. It involves the audience in the complex web of emotions, decisions, and consequences that these soldiers experience daily.

Korengal is not just a war movie but is an intense exploration of the human condition under extreme circumstances. It exposes the hidden layers of soldier's life and psyche that are often overlooked in other war-based documentaries or movies. Through the relentless, yet necessary repetition of patrols, boredom, fear, and adrenaline rush followed by periods of relative calm, the film paints a complex portrait of life in a combat zone.

In all, Korengal serves as an essential viewing not just for those interested in military movies or documentaries, but for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the long-term cost of war. It provides an intimate window into the world of soldiers, sharpens our understanding of the complexities of war, and nudges us to reflect on its profound, lasting impacts. Brutal, touching, shocking, and profound, this film offers stark insights that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.