“The idea of war can
be glorious, but war isn't.”
—Nelson Reyes, November 2001 following the beginning
of the U.S. bombardment of Afghanistan.
“It would be cool to
get a combat badge.”
—Sara Miller, January 2003 waiting at Fort Bragg for
deployment orders to Iraq.
“The best Christmas
present I ever had was getting out of the [U.S.] Infantry on December 23.”
—Thaddeus Ressler, June 19, 2004.
Army of One should become required
viewing for all troubled youth, their uncertain parents, the military
establishment and their detractors or supporters.
Made on a shoestring budget, Sarah
Goodman's film follows three idealistic young Americans from their decision to
enlist in the army through the struggle to survive boot camp—all in hopes of
discovering themselves. They abandon the relative safety of their families
for a much larger one that extols “one set of values,” the mantra “we are
beasts,” and relentlessly drills in such useful facts as the best way of
garrotting a fellow human being is to “jab between the second and third rib.”
Goodman's approach is to stand back and let
the recruits tell their own stories. What could have turned out to be a
propaganda piece (either adulating the military or slamming it) soon places the
army into the background and brings the evil twins of slick marketing and
rudderless youth under the microscope.
Reyes joins the “world's biggest gang”—not
just to get out of the [NYC] neighbourhood,” but to gain the respect and
admiration of his parents and peers. When he returns in uniform that has been
pressed, polished and puffed-up he hopes that its sameness at the
do-as-you're-told barracks will make him stand out in his private world. Initially, all is beautiful. Then his hidden-away personal demons send him AWOL—into an unstoppable downward spiral that has yet to touch down.
Miller, supported by her constant-companion
Phuong, has trouble keeping up with the guys, but perseveres and is voted squad
leader (“I'm not a born leader,” she remarks). Having survived the ravages of
her father's seven-page caustic letter, she seems to find comfort in the
military and waxes philosophical (with a cup or two of rationalization) about
her chances if shipped out to battle: “If you're not meant to die today, you
won't.”
At this moment, and many others, the superb
work from music and sound supervisor Daniel Pellerin, along with composers Mark Stewart
and Paul Watson underscore the unfolding human psychology with a score—particularly the tribal drums—that reflects the angst and dilemmas facing the rookies.
Thaddeus grips our attention every time
he's on the screen. At first, he's in heaven, chanting with glee—eager to
put his budding rifle skills at the service of his country. Later, when his
efforts are rewarded with a truck-driving assignment and latrine-cleaning duty,
he finds solace in alcohol and—in
a scene that won't fade away anytime soon—exchanging
and savouring a severe whipping with his buddy who wants to “refresh” his fading
welts from a previous beating (cross-reference below). Escaping tedium
through pain demonstrates the level of desperation in a way that resonates when
any act of torture is reported.
Andy Bowley's and Alexandra Martinez Kondracke's mix of film and video camera craft is wonderfully “close” to their
subjects; unforgettable is the night-manoeuvre scene where the light's
reflection through the eyes of the commanders creates an image of vampires in
battle gear preparing to pounce on their prey.
Throughout it all, there are voice-overs
from the likes of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld or nameless lackeys
whose job it is to sell the military's actions and—simultaneously—lure America's children into its deadly ranks.
That unspoken—but felt—irony can readily be found on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. Imagine the outcome if as
much energy and resources were dedicated to enticing those old enough to vote into polling stations instead of theatres of war. In this national
election year for both countries, cynicism—necessarily—runs deep: politicians
clinging to power would rather scare impressionable young minds into fighting for the homeland,
than defeating those who have ruined it. JWR