Watch My First War

My First War is a documentary film released in 2008 by an Egyptian director, Yaser Kassab, which narrates the story of a tour of duty of a group of Egyptian soldiers serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission deployed to Chad in 2007. The movie provides an insight into the experiences of these soldiers who come from different backgrounds, their sensations, and hardships that they faced throughout their year of service in the turbulent landscape of Chad. The documentary follows the thirteen soldiers who are part of a larger UN force that was responsible for safeguarding the Chadian refugees who had fled their country to escape the conflict between Chadian army and Sudanese military-backed Chadian rebels.

My First War provides a rare view of the everyday life of peacekeepers serving in the UN’s mission in Chad, a strategical location due to its proximity to Darfur in western Sudan. Chad and Sudan have longstanding territorial disputes and civil wars, and this conflict had spilled over into the neighboring countries. To stop the spread of violence and protect the refugees, the UN deployed its mission, named MINURCAT, to Chad in 2007.

My First War primarily focuses on the Egyptian contingent in the MINURCAT mission. The soldiers are interviewed by the director, who allows them to share their perspectives on the insecurity, cultural shock, and fear that they experienced while being away from their families and facing unknown threats. The soldiers also talk about their responsibilities, the patrols, and the adjustments they had to make to survive in Chad’s conflict-prone landscape.

The soldiers come from a variety of backgrounds: some are educated and have white-collar jobs, others are underprivileged and come from deprived neighborhoods of Cairo. The documentary provides a nuanced perspective of why these soldiers have chosen to join the army and participate in peacekeeping in Africa, despite the danger and risk they face. The soldiers depict their relationship with their teammates, their superiors, and the Chadian population with honesty and sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes and easy judgments.

The documentary director, Yaser Kassab, brings his experience and skills from working as a cameraman for the renowned Egyptian filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah. Kassab’s previous documentary work provides the backbone for My First War, as he showcases his excellent cinematographical techniques and an eye for detail. The documentary features immersive and impressive footage of the harsh desert landscapes of Chad, dusty refugee camps, and the barren and isolated villages where the soldiers conducted their patrols.

One of the fascinating themes of My First War is the contrast between the Egyptian soldiers and the Chadian population. The population, made of mostly Muslims, shares similarities with the Egyptians in terms of the Muslim religion, language, and culture. In contrast, the soldiers come from a country with a different economic, social, and political context.

Despite the similarities, the cultural gap between the two posed a significant challenge for the soldiers. The documentary shows how some soldiers struggled with the different customs, food, and way of life in Chad. The soldiers also reflect on their negative perceptions of the locals, particularly the perception the locals had that they were there to colonize or impose a foreign agenda.

My First War moves at a slow pace, allowing the viewer to immerse themselves in the experiences of the soldiers and the environment they were working in. The documentary avoids simplifying the realities of conflict and peacekeeping, highlighting the complexity and the nuance of peacekeeping operations, particularly in a volatile environment like Chad.

My First War is not just about war, but also about the human experience of peacekeeping. The documentary avoids a political or ideological approach and instead develops a personal and deeply emotional connection with the soldiers. It sheds light on the lives of these ordinary men who faced the extraordinary challenges of serving as peacekeepers in a foreign country.

In conclusion, My First War is a rich, intimate, and poignant documentary. It provides an insightful and honest view of the experience of peacekeeping, through the lens of Egyptian soldiers serving in Chad. This documentary is recommended for anyone interested in understanding the reality of peacekeeping operations and the human dimension of serving in such missions.

My First War is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.