Battle for Haditha (2007)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Nick Broomfield

Writers:

Nick Broomfield (written by)
Marc Hoeferlin (written by)

Release Date:

7 May 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

There are many ways to see the same story

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Marine | Roadside Bomb | Iraq War | Based On Actual Events | Al Qaeda

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Matthew Knoll	...	Cpl. Matthews (as Matthew R. Knoll)
Eric Mehalacopoulos	...	Sgt. Ross
Nathan De La Cruz	...	Cpl. Marcus
Elliot Ruiz	...	Cpl. Ramirez
Jase Willette	...	Pfc. Cuthbert
Thomas Hennessy	...	Doc (as Thomas Hennessy Jr.)
Tony Spencer	...	Pfc. Roberts
Vernon Gaines	...	Lcpl. Sosa
Antonio Tostado	...	Lcpl. Jimenez
Ali Adil Aj-kaa	...	Iraqi Translator
Yasmine Hanani	...	Hiba
Siham Rashid	...	Asma
Majd Hijjawi	...	Woman shot in street
Falah Abraheem Flayeh	...	Ahmad (as Falah Flayeh)
Juliet Koshaba	...	Saba

Also Known As:

Untitled Nick Broomfield/Haditha Documentary (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for war violence, disturbing images, and for pervasive language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | USA:R | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Jerash, Jordan

Company:

Channel Four Films

Trivia:

The film was shot in an unconventional way whereas instead of a detailed script, there was only an outline of each scene and where the story was going. Actors would then improvise much of the dialogue based on director Nick Broomfield's instructions.

If You Liked Bloody Sunday & United 93

I just saw this movie at the Toronto Film Festival, and it's going to create much controversy as the weeks pass until this film finally opens. I think those who are against a movie before they even see it are saying something about themselves, not the film. Watch it, and then make up your mind. This movie, like United 93 or Bloody Sunday, is told moment to moment, keeps it's head down and just moves forward without judgment or commentary. The movie isn't aware of the past or future, it only knows what it knows through the characters we follow, some of whom are American soldiers, some are innocent Iraqi families, others are terrorists. This movie does a wise thing by simply showing things from all points of view. I can't wait until it's released because it needs to be talked about.

At the premiere for the film, we learn that many of the actors on the American front are actually soldiers who fought in Iraq. The head of the platoon is especially good, and could go on and have a career as an actor.