Armadillo

Colour, 35 mm
Denmark, Sweden, 2010, 100 min
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

In February 2009 a group of Danish soldiers accompanied by documentary filmmaker Janus Metz arrived at Armadillo, an army base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Metz and cameraman Lars Skree spent six months following the lives of young soldiers situated less than a kilometer away from Taliban positions. The outcome of their work is a gripping and highly authentic war drama that was justly awarded the Grand Prix de la Semaine de la Critique at this year’s Cannes film festival. But it also provoked furious debate in Denmark concerning the controversial behavior of certain Danish soldiers during a shootout with Taliban fighters. The filmmakers repeatedly risked their lives shooting this tense, brilliantly edited, and visually sophisticated probe into the psychology of young men in the midst of a senseless war whose victims are primarily local villagers. Yet more disturbing than scenes in which Taliban bullets whiz past their cameras is the footage of the young soldiers as each tries, in his own way, to come to terms with putting his life constantly on the line.

About the director

Janus Metz (b. 1974, Denmark), graduated in communication and international development studies from Roskilde University. During a year-long stay in Johannesburg in 2002-03 he worked on the South African series "Soul City.” This experience inspired him to shoot his own documentary debut Township Boys (2006). His 2008 picture Ticket to Paradise (Fra Thy til Thailand), treating the topic of Danish men who marry Thai women, took a Special Mention at CPH:DOX and screened to appreciative audiences at this year’s One World festival.