Leavenworth

Leavenworth is an engrossing and intriguing docuseries produced by Starz in 2019. The show weaves a complex narrative of justice, honor, and the effects our actions have on our lives and the world around us.

Leavenworth takes us into the heart of the U.S. military's justice system with its exploration of a contentious and highly-publicized legal saga. The series primarily focuses on the story of Clint Lorance, a former 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In July 2012, during his deployment in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, Lorance was involved in an episode that resulted in the death of two Afghan civilians. Following this occurrence, he was court-martialed for murder and sentenced to 19 years in the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The incident and the subsequent court-martial raised intense debates. The prosecution advocated accountability and adherence to the rules of engagement in war scenarios, while the defense emphasized the impossibly high-pressure situations soldiers face in combat zones. Through this narrative framework, Leavenworth confronts the viewers with the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by contemporary warfare, and the fine line soldiers walk between self-defense and unlawfulness.

The series, directed by award-winning filmmaker Paul Pawlowski and executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and Paul Pawlowski, does a splendid job portraying the complexities of the situation. Leavenworth is not just about the fate of one man, but a more extensive exploration of the military justice system, the controversies around it, and the societal perception of war and its heroes.

The docuseries doesn't adhere to a simplistic approach - it offers all perspectives of the story. Through the use of interviews with Lorance himself, his family, his legal team, as well as soldiers who served with him, military legal experts, and scholars, Leavenworth allows us to see the case from multiple angles. It explores the challenging universal questions of military ethics, the nature of justice, and the balance between obeying orders and preserving human life.

The craft of storytelling used in Leavenworth is equally impressive. The creators use a variety of methods to keep viewers engaged, such as the use of personal narratives, investigative reporting, and archival footage, creating a compelling and well-rounded docuseries. The pacing of the series maintains the viewers' interest, providing a constant unraveling of elements that deepen our understanding of the case and its implications. Moreover, the tabletop miniature scenes recreated to depict the tactical situations are both viscerally evocative and engaging for the viewers.

The true power of Leavenworth lies in its impartiality and refusal to offer easy answers, letting the audience grapple with their perceptions about justice and morality. Lorance's case becomes a considerable test of loyalties and dichotomies – duty versus morality, justice versus mercy, and rules of engagement versus survival instinct.

The series also engages with the wider social and political context. It's an apt commentary on the country's psyche during the War on Terror and how perceptions get swayed in the arena of public opinion, particularly in the advent of new media.

It's not just a tale about one haunting incident on the front lines, but also the tangled web of reactions, support, criticism, legal battles, and media coverage that followed. It focuses on how the incident rippled out and impacted relations within the ranks, veterans, the public's perception, and even international views of the U.S. military.

The show's ability to delve into such complex issues in a thoughtful and empathetic manner is commendable in its precision and leaves viewers with an understanding of the grey areas in military law, ethical responsibilities during warfare, and the burden of public opinion in high-profile court cases.

In conclusion, Leavenworth is a significant, hard-hitting docuseries that merits viewing. It's not just a sobering exploration of the realities of war and its aftermath for the soldiers but also a mirror held up to the society we live in. A show that intertwines personal tale and wider issues, Leavenworth brilliantly encapsulates the interplay between individual actions and their wider rippling consequences in a world battling with notions of justice and wartime ethics.