Jose Antonio Gutierrez was the first 'American' soldier killed in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was lionized as a war hero by the Marine Corps and by the American media (especially the gung-ho Wall Street Journal), but the truth was that he was killed by friendly fire and wasn't American at all. In fact, he was a Guatemalan immigrant who came to the United States illegally at the tender age of 14. His tragic tale is retold in this brutally frank German documentary, which traces his journey from his poverty stricken birthplace to a new land, where his status as a rootless working class male of a certain age made him easy pickings for military recruiters. If war truly is a force that gives us meaning, Exhibit A could be Jose Antonio Gutierrez, whose troubled life ended in an illegal war fought on behalf of a nation that constantly demonises immigrants whilst relying on them for cheap labour and cannon fodder. The film is not in the least bit sensational--it doesn't need to be--but feels a little long at 90 minutes.
2 Reviews
hardly 'Meat for the Grinder'
thinkdreamcreate13 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a look at the brief and tragic life of a young man from Guatamala. Other reviewers might have you believe he was exploited by the US military but, as it happens, there are many of thousands of young men and women from the USA itself who enlist in the military. Most find a vocation, a sense of discipline, and a good life with good friends. This is what this young man found as well.
When a reviewer wears his politics on his sleeve, he does a disservice to the reader.
This is a solid documentary about a young man who pursued a dream, found it, and unfortunately became a casualty of war.
When a reviewer wears his politics on his sleeve, he does a disservice to the reader.
This is a solid documentary about a young man who pursued a dream, found it, and unfortunately became a casualty of war.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
