Watch The Forgotten War - Military encounters in Afghanistan
- 2010
- 39 min
The Forgotten War is a gripping documentary that takes a deep dive into the military encounters in Afghanistan. The movie highlights the story of the troops who fought in one of the most prolonged wars in U.S history. The narrative flips between interviews with veterans who share their war stories and footage from the battlefield, making it a powerful and emotional experience.
The movie opens with footage from the devastating September 11 attacks, which led to the beginning of the war. It then follows the U.S military's response and their engagement in Afghanistan, where they tried to destroy the Taliban regime and capture the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The Forgotten War delves into the gritty details of the war, exploring the soldiers' experiences on the ground, the challenges, successes, and failures.
The movie does an excellent job of balancing the perspectives of both the U.S forces and the Afghans. The interviews with the soldiers and the use of original footage allow the audience to understand what the troops had to endure on a daily basis. We feel their exhaustion, stress, and the toll it takes on their mental and physical health.
The Forgotten War also explores the lives of the Afghans living in their war-torn country. The movie shows how the war has affected the civilian population and the tragic consequences it has had on their daily lives. The use of Afghans' narratives is powerful and relevant, giving the audience an understanding of what life is like for people living in a warzone.
The documentary paints a picture of how the U.S's relationships with the Afghan officials became tarnished due to disagreements on how best to proceed with the war. The movie portrays the internal conflict over the "hearts and minds" campaign, which aimed to gain the support of the Afghan people by winning them over with goodwill projects. The strategy was opposed by some who thought it was a waste of resources and, more importantly, that the Afghan people would never trust the Americans.
One of the highlights of the movie is the presentation of insights from military officials who have a deep understanding of the war's intricacies. They lay bare how the war was fought and highlight the implications it had on foreign policy. These insights contextualize the current state of U.S-Afghan relations and provide a sense of what the future may hold.
Despite the numerous successful missions carried out by the military, it becomes evident that the complexity of the conflict has made it difficult to achieve long-term success. The movie points to the fact that America's understanding of Afghan culture was limited, and this lack of cultural awareness ultimately led to the military's failure to institute sustainable peace.
The Forgotten War is a captivating and enlightening documentary. It tackles complex issues in a way that is easy to follow and understand, even for those unfamiliar with the conflict. The interviews are emotive, and the use of original footage adds to the authenticity of the documentary. The production is outstanding, including soundtrack, editing, and pacing, making it compelling from start to finish.
In summary, The Forgotten War is a must-watch documentary. It offers an honest, raw, and balanced insight into the military engagements in Afghanistan. It is a movie that should be viewed by all individuals who want to understand the ongoing war's complexities and soldiers' experiences on the ground. It provides a bird's eye view of a conflict that has had far-reaching consequences and will continue to influence foreign policy and international relations for years to come.
The Forgotten War - Military encounters in Afghanistan is a 2010 documentary with a runtime of 39 minutes.