Baghdad ER

Baghdad ER is an extremely powerful film, and its impact amplified extremely effectively with its understated, straightforward storytelling. It communicates the tragedy of the latest Iraq war with some pretty graphic scenes, but it never becomes sensationalistic, or turns into a soapbox from which an anti- war or political message is delivered.

The doctors and nurses who work in this ER are total professionals. There's no fooling around a la M*A*S*H. Instead these men and women take on whatever broken and bleeding soldiers come to them via helicopter, day in and day out - mostly the mangled victims of IEDs, some of whom need an arm or leg amputated immediately, or instant chest surgery from shrapnel that has shredded lungs, bones, muscles and tendons. (And to the reviewer who commented that he was so 'Disappointed' in the movie because they only treat the "aggressors," there are scenes when Iraqi soldiers and civilians are brought in and treated by the medics, who are just as dedicated to saving their lives as those of Americans.)

Some casualties just don't make it, dying right on the gurney. And while the medical personnel are sad and disappointed, often cursing the "stupid, pointless war," they remain professional. Surviving soldiers don't always hold their emotions in, though, and who could blame them for breaking down after suddenly losing a friend, or a buddy with two arms or legs that have to be amputated.

There doesn't have to be a narrator to tell us that the soldiers who are severely wounded, whose lives will be changed forever, are someone's sons, friends, husbands, brothers, or fathers.

I'd like to sit with George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld while they watched "Baghdad ER." The film doesn't say it, but these three are war criminals. I don't know how they've lived with themselves since they sent so many good people to their deaths or caused them to suffer such life-changing injuries (and I'm talking about Americans AND Iraqis).

I decided to watch this movie thinking it would be a more objective view of what went on in Iraq. Unfortunately, this movie only focuses on American soldiers and their injuries. You will see nothing about injured Iraquis.

This movie shows what it's like for American soldiers to be in a war, to get injured, and what they have to deal with. The setting of the whole movie is one specific hospital. We may speculate about what the message of the movie is. With remarks about Iraqui "assholes with IEDs" causing harm to brave American soldiers, the message I see here is mostly, "Look how our brave soldiers suffer in this war."

Well, excuse me if it doesn't bring me to tears. I've seen at least a hundred war-related documentaries, and I know the civilian populations of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Palestine, and other places suffer a lot more than American soldiers. And let's make something clear: This war was an act of aggression by the US. The US invaded a sovereign country based on a completely fabricated premise (nonexistent WMDs) and in a course of several years completely destroyed the whole country, killing about a million people, mostly civilians, and ruining the lives of many more.

The loss of American lives is certainly a tragedy, but the movie fails to address the fact that this tragedy is not caused so much by Iraqui fighters, but rather bad policies of the US government. It also fails to mention that the cost to the Iraqui population is incomparably higher, and they were only defending their country.

It's all right if a documentary decides to focus on one specific issue. I have no problem with that. Often that's a necessity. But the message that I see in this movie is taken out of context and highly distorted. It paints aggressors as victims, and I believe this impression could be easily accepted by people who don't know better.

Some say that this movie shows what you never see on the screen. I find that sad because that's a sign of great ignorance. There's nothing in this movie that I haven't seen over and over before. All of this happens all the time in many places of the world, and more often than not, it's caused by the US. That's a sad but well documented fact.

Now, I'm not saying the movie is bad or even that it's lying. It's worth a watch if you don't know much about what war looks like. But it has to be understood that it shows a very specific and limited view of the war, and if people want to understand anything, this movie alone shows just a small piece of the puzzle, which on its own can be quite misleading. It simply lacks context. As it is, it brings nothing new to the table for people who are well informed. (To be honest, I found it mostly boring. Seen it all before countless times.) There are certainly much better war documentaries out there.

This movie hit a little closer to home for me because my husband is Spc Chester Keenum. I know first hand the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families make. The news does not show things like this and I think people should know. My husband and these soldiers fight for us. My husband makes the sacrifices he does for this country to insure that our children and your children will have a safe country to grow up in. We lived at Walter Reed For 4 months as he had numerous surgeries. These people are only a handful who have made serious sacrifices. You will meet some of the bravest men and woman in the world at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. If ever in the D.C. area you should visit them, they are truly inspiring. My husband did return to Iraq and finished his tour and now is back home with us. His eyesight is better than the doctors ever imagined and we thank God every day that he blessed us. Keep our soldiers in your prayer constantly, they need it.

Having worked at the "Baghdad ER" I think this is an outstanding film. When I first saw it I was just sure it would be sensationalistic and exploitative. I was wrong. This film does have its graphic moments but is nowhere near as graphic as it could have been. Initially I also thought that the film would be anti-war. As I watched the film I was pleasantly surprised to note that it had no political message whatsoever. The film has no narrator and the only words are those spoken by the people actually in the documentary from Medics and nurses to physicians and the patients themselves. The film will, therefore, be different things to different people depending on who watches it and in what frame of mind. One person could call it anti-war where another could call it propaganda. I believe it to be neither and the mark of a great documentary. As a physician in the Army I was uplifted by this film realistically showing the work we do in Iraq and elsewhere in support of our front line soldiers. This film shows this beautifully and should be seen by everyone. The compassion for the soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, and civilians treated at the CSH is real and happens there every hour of every day.

Most people think they know whats going on in Iraq and Afghanistan because they watch CNN. I was like that too. No matter how hard you try you can't turn simple numbers (17000+ injured; 2100+ dead) into reality.

This documentary will show you what it's REALLY like, without pulling any punches. You'll have a new respect for veterans and present soldiers alike. Respect that we all should have already, except that the truth is hidden from us by the media and the government. Take your blinders off and watch the truth. You won't regret it.

10/10