Watch The War Tapes

The War Tapes is a documentary film released in 2006 that provides a unique and raw perspective on the Iraq War, as it was filmed almost entirely by soldiers fighting on the frontlines. The film follows three soldiers, Zack Bazzi, Duncan Domey, and Ben Flanders, all members of the New Hampshire National Guard, during their deployment to Iraq in 2004.

One of the most striking aspects of this film is that the soldiers do the filming themselves. They are given cameras with instructions to document their daily lives and duties, as well as any combat situations they might find themselves in. This approach gives the audience an unfiltered and intimate look at what it's like to be on the ground during wartime.

The film is structured around interviews with the three soldiers, as well as footage from their personal cameras. We see them during training exercises in the United States, preparing for the deployment, and then making their way to Iraq. Once there, they are tasked with handling a variety of duties, from patrolling the streets of Baghdad to manning checkpoints and interacting with the local population.

As the film progresses, the soldiers find themselves in increasingly difficult and dangerous situations, including running into IEDs on the road and engaging in firefights with insurgents. The footage they capture during these moments is harrowing and intense, giving viewers a sense of the chaos and violence that characterized the conflict.

However, the film is also notable for its quieter moments, where the soldiers reflect on their experiences, discuss their families back home, and grapple with the moral complexities of their mission. They talk about their fears and frustrations, as well as their sense of duty and commitment to their fellow soldiers.

Overall, The War Tapes is a powerful and thought-provoking film that offers a unique perspective on the Iraq War. By allowing soldiers to film themselves and tell their own stories, the filmmakers have created a truly immersive and compelling documentary that forces viewers to confront the human toll of armed conflict.

The War Tapes is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 77.