Restrepo

Two veteran photojournalists spend a year embedded with a U.S. Army infantry company in a brutal Afghan valley. Restrepo follows the members of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, as they patrol through winding ridgelines, endure ambushes, and tend to wounded comrades under constant threat. The film foregrounds the daily grind: late night guard duty, stifling heat, improvised moments of humor, and the heavy weight of leadership decisions. It centers on the bond among soldiers including Juan "Doc" Restrepo, the unit's medic, and the photographer's raw footage that captures moments of fear, camaraderie, and quiet resilience. The aim is to illuminate what it takes to hold a corridor against the Taliban without glamorizing war.

Directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger, Restrepo was produced with National Geographic and released to theaters in 2010 after a high-profile festival run. It documents a full year with the infantry unit in the Korengal Valley, focusing on medics and leaders.

The documentary earned about $1.437 million worldwide, reflecting a strong performance for a combat documentary with limited release. It found a niche audience through educational screenings and National Geographic's channels, expanding to limited theaters and later television broadcasts in schools and universities as part of curricula.

Restrepo has become a referent for documentary realism in war reporting. Its unvarnished look at daily patrols, the medic's courage, and the soldiers' ritual of keeping watch in the valley sparked discussions about frontline experience and military life, influencing war docs, journalism ethics, and veteran advocacy in classrooms and museums.

Critics praised the film for its intimate, unflinching portrayal of soldiers under fire and the toll of combat on friendships and mental strain. The themes revolve around duty, fear, resilience, and the human cost of a protracted conflict, without sensationalism, offering a grounded portrait of what soldiers carry home.