Brothers at War
Brothers at War is a documentary film presented by Samuel Goldwyn Films and directed by Jake Rademacher. It’s an insider story of American soldiers fighting war in Iraq. It’s not pro-war or anti-war, neither the documentary speaks on the associated complications of war and politics, instead the film reflects on-ground reality of day to day living of American soldiers in Iraqi soil that harbors death at every step.
Brothers at War is a true story of men, women, their undying patriotism, sense of duty and above all unfailing love for their country in the face of harsh reality of barren landscape, its dust and heat.
The film is about sons of Rademacher family from Decatur. There were three brothers Jake, Isaac and Joe. Jake who always harbored ambition of being a soldier, could not quite make up to it and landed being an actor. Isaac made it to the West Point and got married to Jenny, his classmate. Next was Joe who also went into military by topping his class at Army Ranger School.
The three brothers were extremely close as they grew up but Jake always thought that he could never experience the feelings that Isaac and Joe undergoes in warfront. He could feel the difference during their homecoming.
It was then that Jake decided to shoot a documentary on them at war. He felt that in this way he would be able to feel the moments lived by his brothers where life and death is just two sides of the same coin. You never know which moment which side of the coin is yours.
Although there were hiccups of initial investment, logistic issues and of course the dangers of being there, Jake could finally make his intentions productive when he got attached with Captain Isaac’s team where Joe was the sergeant. As the troop patrolled around Sunni Triangle and Syrian Border, Jake was one of the members.
Jake being there with the soldiers made the film so real. The army men were not conscious of the camera and so they were their real self. Jake could get into their shoes for a while and be a part of the talk shows and gab sessions.
Jake was with soldiers throughout, watching them taking their food and walking by their side to feel the pulse. Through the lenses of his camera he provides with a stark reality of life of a soldier.
Jake also shot scenes of his brother’s homecoming. Isaac and Jenny had a daughter whom Isaac did not have the chance to see as he was deported at Iraq. So he meets her for the first time when he returns home. Jake captures all his experiences in his camera and lives the moment as he makes the film.
It is here that Jake urges all to live with him the real experience through his film Brothers At War.
The film is rated R for the language and image of war.
Film: Brothers at War
Cast: Mahmoud Hamid Ali, Edward Allier, Zack Corke, Danelle Fields, Ben Fisher, Kevin Keniston, Frank McCann, Brandon ‘Mongo’ Phillips, Claus Rademacher, Isaac Rademacher, Jake Rademacher, Jenny Rademacher, Joe Rademacher, Robert Smallwood
Director: Jake Rademacher
Running Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Rating: 3/5
Posted on Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 6:44 pm