Resurrected [DVD]

Getting its first UK DVD release since its inception in 1989 comes Resurrected,a first feature film from director Paul Greengrass who gave us The Bourne trilogy and Green Zone.It tells the story of a young soldier (Kevin Deakin)who takes part in the attack on Stanley during the Falklands War.During this battle he loses his memory,subsequently goes missing and is presumed dead with a memorial service held back home for him.Several weeks later he turns up at a Falkland islanders farm feeling cold,hungry and in no real worse for the wear except for his bouts of amnesia.He is then shipped home to what is a heroes welcome.It isnt long before the questions arise of where he had been for these weeks and with it rumours of cowardice.Already finding it difficult to adjust to his "normal" life back home Kevin not only struggles with the rumour mill circling but with his own memory of his actions/inactions during this conflict.The only images of the battle itself are few and far between,giving the viewer a myopic view of events which serves the film well,an action film this is not.Incidentally the extras used for the battle scenes were real soldiers who actually fought in this battle giving them frightening authenticity.Unable to answer his family or girlfriends questions Paul spends more and more time with his younger brother Gregory,often going fishing and doing anything but answer questions.
Eventually Paul is returned to his section where he is ostracised buy his fellow soldiers,most of whom saw action in the same battle and who are themselves struggling with their own nightmares.So it is Paul who bears the brunt of his sections anger with outright bullying and questions on what happened to him,unlike the whispers of his family,friends and neighbours.Conducting their own barrack room inquiry they subject Paul to a "scrubbing" which is both realistic and gruesome.The scene is expertly filmed by Greengrass and is depicted with a voyeuristic feel to it making it uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable to watch.A film which explores warfare and heroism under a different light and one that shows what happens to our young boys(and now girls)we send to war.
David Thewlis plays Paul with an air of sensitivity and normality giving the character a believable feel and one that leaves you with a lot of empathy for.There are very few Falkland War films and the ones i have seen(Tumbledown [DVD]and Blessed By Fire [2006] [DVD]) seem to centre on the same lines as this.Though in my opinion this one is not quite as good as the afore mentioned.Based partly on fact and partly on fiction it does deliver the message on the ambiguity and confusion of war well and one Paul Greengrass should be proud of.
The main feature has a runtime of 88 mins and filmed in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen and 2.0 Dolby Digital.The disc also offers two interesting documentaries.One from David Thewlis and one from Paul Greengrass which give an insight into the research and development of the film.The only other extra is a scene selection choice.

Excellent film, I remember reading years ago the story it was based on, "Summer Soldier",the true story of the missing Scot's Guardsman Philip Williams, during the Falklands War of 1982. Nonetheless, I really liked the concept of film though, the very true nature of history and its events, essentially nothing can be straight forward in black and white terms. If viewers like Shane Meadows' This Is England series, "Resurrected" can be easily placed alongside such gritty portrayals. Something a lot of American films fail to do.

Not everyone can be a hero.This film is about a real incident,(Although partly fictionalised),about a soldier who turned up,out of the blue,SEVEN weeks after the Falkand's War finished.A refreshing alternative to the usual Gung-Ho war films.A worthy addition to your war/Falklands collection.However due to the subject matter,some people will probably hate it.