Watch Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks

Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks is a powerful and emotional documentary film released in 2005 that casts a critical eye on the experience of war and its aftermath. The movie is essentially an interview with retired U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jimmy Massey, who served in the Iraq War, fought in the initial invasion in March 2003, and became an anti-war activist afterwards.

The film is a searing indictment of the United States' decision to invade Iraq, and the way the war was conducted. Over the span of 56 minutes, Massey shares his experiences and opinions on the war, revealing how he came to oppose it and participate in protests against it.

At the start of the film, Massey is introduced as a highly patriotic and idealistic young man, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1990 to serve his country. He experienced his first taste of combat in the Gulf War, where he served as a machine gunner. Despite suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the fighting ended, he continued his military service, rising through the ranks to become a Staff Sergeant in 2001.

In early 2003, the U.S. military launched its war to topple Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, and Massey was part of the invasion force. As a convoy commander, he led more than 100 Marines into Iraq and participated in several firefights with Iraqi soldiers. His combat experience in Iraq, however, was vastly different from what he had experienced in the Gulf War.

Massey shares with the filmmaker his horror at seeing the destruction and chaos wrought by the U.S. military on the people of Iraq. He talks about his shock at the arbitrary killing of civilians, including women and children, by U.S. soldiers, and how this was covered up by the military. Massey also discusses the impact of the war on his fellow soldiers, many of whom suffered from PTSD and other mental health issues.

As the invasion gave way to occupation, Massey found himself losing faith in the mission and questioning the rationale behind the war. He recounts incidents where he and his fellow soldiers were ordered to commit acts that he felt were immoral and unjustifiable. Eventually, he became an outspoken critic of the war, joining anti-war organizations and speaking out against the U.S. military's conduct in Iraq.

Throughout the film, Massey talks about the toll that his experiences in Iraq took on him, both physically and mentally. He reveals that he suffered from PTSD after the war, and how this affected his relationships with his family and friends. Massey also shares his thoughts on the U.S. military's treatment of soldiers with mental health issues, and how he feels that the government let down those who served in Iraq.

Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks is a thought-provoking and emotional movie that highlights the human cost of war. Massey's testimony gives viewers an inside look into the psychological and emotional effects of combat, and the challenges of readjusting to civilian life afterwards. The film also raises difficult questions about the ethics of war and the responsibility of soldiers to resist orders that they consider immoral.

Overall, Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks is a powerful critique of the Iraq War, and a moving tribute to the courage of those who spoke out against it. The film's sensitive handling of issues such as PTSD, mental health, and military ethics makes it a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the human side of war.

Back From Iraq: The U.S. Soldier Speaks is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.