Battle For Haditha (2008) Movie Information:

Battle For Haditha (2008) Directed by: Nick Broomfield Battle For Haditha (2008) Written by: Nick Broomfield, Marc Hoeferlin Battle For Haditha (2008) Cast: Elliot Ruiz, Yasmine Hanani, Andrew McLaren, Matthew Knoll

Battle For Haditha (2008) U.S. Distributor: HanWay Films Battle For Haditha (2008) U.K. Distributor: Not available at this time

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Battle For Haditha (2008) Synopsis:

An investigation of the massacre of 24 men, women and children in Haditha, Iraq allegedly shot by 4 U.S. Marines in retaliation for the death of a U.S. Marine killed by a roadside bomb. The movie follows the story of the Marines of Kilo Company, an Iraqi family, and the insurgents who plant the roadside bomb. "Battle for Haditha" considers the humanity of the full spectrum of war’s victims: civilians caught in maelstrom not of their making and young soldiers, themselves traumatized by the chaotic violence synonymous with this seemingly endless conflict.

Battle For Haditha (2008) Movie Review:

Documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield (Biggie and Tupac, Kurt & Courtney) brings a dramatic, controversial narrative film to the screen called Battle for Haditha.

The film follows the events of November 19, 2005 in Haditha, Iraq. One that day a roadside bomb killed a U.S. Marine and injured many others. In an alleged retaliatory manner 24 Iraqi men, women, and children were killed by the Marines in search of the planters of the roadside device. The film follows the actions of the Marines of Kilo Company, the insurgents who planted the roadside bomb, as well as the Iraqi family that was killed.

Surrounded by so many questions, so much anger, and so much controversy, this film parallels every angle from this tragic day in the current war in Iraqi, his choices and execution in this film is questionable. Some have stated that this film is just as powerful in depiction as United 93 or Bloody Sunday, but its not, it at times seems too contrived or staged. Broomfield has stated he has done extensive research on everything that happened that day in Haditha to present it from all sides. The tragedy in Haditiha is part of the chaos that happens in war and no one except for the soldiers and families there know every detail. It is terrible what happens in war, but depicting as true and accurate is a little too early, as some of the charges against those involved at Haditha are still pending.

There is no doubt that Broomfield has a talent for capturing raw and powerful images, but Battle of Haditha might of worked best as a straight documentary. Broomfield has done solid documentary films in the past, why would he not get his questions and microphone to shoot a documentary about what happened in Battle for Haditha. Documentaries show all sides of a story, which is what Broomfield does with this film, but then why did he do it as a narrative film? He shows sympathy on all sides in the film, why not let that be conveyed by the real people and families that were involved?

Broomfield cast mostly ex-Marines as some of his cast which includes Elliot Ruiz as Corporal Ramirez, who is focused on as one of the most affected soldiers of the attack. It is apparent that Ruiz does not have incredible acting chops, but that he does command attention throughout the film.
Battle for Haditha is a hard film to watch, and it is based on a real-life story that all the answers have and may never be solved. The choices by Broomfield of showing the chaos of war and all the victims from every side are understood. Broomfield is a great documentary filmmaker, in which Battle for Haditha should have been a documentary, not a narrative film with a director choosing what he tells the audience, not the story itself.

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Battle For Haditha (2008) review written by: Bailey Henderson