Restrepo

Restrepo documents the 15-month deployment of a US Army platoon serving in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, in 2007. The outpost they are defending is named Restrepo in honour of a former platoon medic who was killed during an ambush by insurgents. Considered to be one of the most dangerous postings any American soldier could be asked to undertake, the documentary follows the platoon during combat and shows the ever-present dangers of war.

With members of the Taliban surrounding them, the soldiers feel as though they are living in a constant hell. However, they have the companionship of one another to help them persevere through the danger. They experience heartbreak together when members of their group lose their lives in battle. When the surviving soldiers complete their deployment, they are left with lasting psychological trauma stemming from the violence they witnessed.

A sequel film, Korengal, was released in 2014.