Watch Hell and Back Again

Hell and Back Again is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that takes a close look at the experiences of US Marines fighting in the Taliban stronghold of Afghanistan's Helmand province. The film is directed by Danfung Dennis and features a captivating blend of footage shot on location and interviews with soldiers as they navigate the complex realities of modern war.

At the core of the movie is the story of Nathan Harris, a young Marine sergeant who is injured on the battlefield and returned home to his wife and small town in North Carolina. We see both his experiences in Afghanistan and his struggles to reintegrate back into civilian life after he is discharged from the military. The film is structured in a way that effectively interweaves these two threads, creating a powerful and nuanced exploration of what it means to go to war and come back again.

One of the most striking aspects of the movie is the way it captures the brutal and surreal nature of modern warfare. The footage shot by Dennis is at once visceral and dreamlike, with scenes of intense combat and destruction interspersed with quiet moments of reflection and introspection. By placing viewers directly in the middle of the action, the film creates a visceral sense of what it must feel like to be a soldier on the front lines of a war that many have called unwinnable.

At the same time, the movie also delves deeply into the psychological toll that war takes on soldiers, their families, and their communities. We see Harris struggling to cope with the physical and emotional wounds he sustained in combat, as well as the feelings of isolation and dislocation that come with leaving the military. These scenes are interspersed with interviews with other soldiers who discuss their own experiences with PTSD, depression, and suicide, painting a powerful picture of the lasting impact of war on those who fight it.

Despite the bleakness of much of the subject matter, however, Hell and Back Again is ultimately a film about resilience and hope. Through Harris's story, as well as the experiences of other soldiers and their families, we see people finding ways to stay strong and persevere in the face of overwhelming adversity. The final scenes of the movie, which show Harris preparing to return to Afghanistan for another tour of duty, are both heart-rending and inspiring, a testament to the strength and sacrifice of those who serve our country.

Overall, Hell and Back Again is a powerful and moving film that offers an intimate look at the realities of war and its aftermath. By blending stunning visuals with frank interviews and a deeply personal narrative, the movie manages to capture the complexity and humanity of an issue that often feels too big and too abstract for us to truly comprehend. Whether you're a pacifist or a hawk, a veteran or a civilian, this is a film that will make you think, feel, and question your assumptions about the military and the people who choose to serve.

Hell and Back Again is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 81.