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Camp Victory, Afghanistan
R2 - United Kingdom - Safecracker Pictures Review written by and copyright: Mark McManus (12th August 2011). |
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The Film
 “In the military, you shouldn’t have to beg the soldiers to fight” In 2005, film maker Carol Dysinger embedded with the US National Guard as they started the slow and arduous task of building and training a new Afghan army, an essential step in the US army’s eventual withdrawal from the country. Over 3 years, Dysinger captured over 300 hours of footage, which she has trimmed down into a surprisingly intimate story that encompasses both the wider mission and the personal friendships formed by officers on the both sides of the linguistic, political and cultural barricades. 30 year Afghan army veteran, Brigadier General Sayar and his US advisors struggle against the odds to turn a ragtag group of recruits, most from over the border in Pakistan, and virtually all there just for the money, into an effective fighting force. It certainly doesn’t look promising; no-one turns up for lessons set up to combat illiteracy, training supplies are low – “if you don’t have bullets, make a noise with your mouth” – and corruption is rife, with one soldier, for example, caught hording ammunition for local insurgents and Taliban. There is no voice-over; instead Dysinger mixes fly on the wall footage of training drills, classes, marches and so on, with talking head interview with officers on both sides. The result is a fascinating film that illustrates trust issues and frustrations on all sides, often centred around the new recruits who simply don’t seem that bothered, and don’t follow orders. Sayar’s initial wariness is understandable; he talks in detail about his experiences during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and it’s clear that he sees echoes of the past in the USA’s presence. However over time the respect and trust on both sides does build some much-needed bridges. All this of course, is occurring against a background of political upheaval in the country. As one US soldier puts it, “We are supposed to develop an army that will defend its country against any enemy, under the supervision and direction of a democratically elected government, oh, by the way in a nation that doesn’t have a set of laws yet”. The troops have to deal with local tribal leaders and militia, who still hold power and influence, and the return of the Taliban. Despite these hurdles though, the genuine respect that is shared on both sides is clear, and there are some genuinely tearful farewells when the US teams change after 12 months.
Video
Anamorphic 1.78:1. Filmed on hand-held, non-HD video cameras, this film’s presentation was never going to be reference quality demo material. That said, it’s fair to say that what we have here is at least and accurate presentation of the source material. Colours are bold and punchy, sometimes slightly overly so, while contrast is generally good, especially in scenes filmed in bright sunlight. Much of the footage suffers from apparent edge enhancement, but I suspect this is an issue with the original source footage rather than the DVD transfer. The suspicion is supported by the fact that the burnt-in subtitles and title cards are crisp and clear with no such issues.
Audio
English/Pashto/Farsi Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. The audio presentation is similarly basic but functional. Recorded in various indoor and outdoor locations, again with fairly basic equipment, dialogue is clear throughout. There is some sparingly but effectively used musical accompaniment in the form of some traditional style music from composer Sasha Gordon, and this is nice and clear.
Extras
There are no extra features included.
Overall
Whatever your views of the war itself, or the politicians behind it, it’s clear that the US teams and the Afghan officers want the new army to work, and the problems with the inexperienced and unmotivated troops, and perceptions of wasted US investment cause understandable frictions. By turns fascinating, frustrating and even occasionally grimly humourous, Camp Victory, Afghanistan is essential viewing for anyone interested in the war in Afghanistan.
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