Movie poster (Credit: A24)
A24's "Warfare": Is it time for yet another Iraq War film?
A24, the acclaimed independent film studio, recently announced its latest project: a movie titled Warfare that aims to depict the events of the 2003 Iraq War from the perspective of the director, Ray Mendoza, who was an American soldier who fought in the same war.
The movie includes many high-profile actors, such as Will Poulter, Kit Connor, Noah Centineo, Joseph Quinn, and Charles Melton.
However, the announcement sparked significant controversy and backlash from audiences.
The film is intended to explore the complexities of the Iraq War and its aftermath on American troops. Despite A24's reputation for tackling challenging subjects, many believe that yet another film focusing on the Iraq War is unnecessary, particularly when it seems to perpetuate a narrative that glosses over the darker aspects of the war.
Critics argue that the Iraq War has been the subject of numerous films, yet few, if any, have adequately addressed the role of the United States as the aggressor, including movies such as The Hurt Locker and American Sniper. Many contend that American films often frame the narrative around the experiences of American soldiers without fully confronting the consequences of their actions and the impact of the war on the Iraqi people.
This lack of critical examination is particularly concerning given the documented war crimes committed during the conflict, such as those revealed in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Social media has become a hotbed for discussions surrounding Warfare with many expressing frustration over A24's decision to greenlight a project that seems to ignore the complexities of the Iraq War and the suffering of civilians.
Here are some online reactions:
You will never make me feel bad for an Iraq War vet https://t.co/I02TVqg3Bv
— Jamie (@smokeismedicine) December 16, 2024
Kit Connor wasn’t even born when the war in Iraq started… it’s just so horrifying to see so many of these young actors in a War Propaganda film where we know the America/The West were in the wrong… kinda like we don’t want to see WW2 films from the Nazi perspective… https://t.co/ufnnECqYWH
— August (@RahulXWalia) December 16, 2024
wow... another movie about imperialist american soldiers invading Iraq but they're the victims because now they have trauma :( https://t.co/rDL62CJYGD
— sar | #1 butch lover (@kataraluvr) December 16, 2024
I genuinely do not care about another movie of war crimes from the perspective of the oppressors…. https://t.co/4Ki4xNN7WS
— Nicolas is happy (@niggaolas) December 16, 2024
any time anyone makes media about the iraq war that prioritises the invaders experience I feel like iraqis should be allowed to throw a shoe at them https://t.co/sh06Wb3Ee0
— Soraya Bouazzaoui (@halalltakeaway) December 16, 2024
lmfaoooo a24 doing iraq war propaganda in 2024?? “multiple bad guys trying to get to our position” YOU ARE THE BAD GUYS https://t.co/38PDJPpgQ8
— sippin on that (@vivafalastin) December 16, 2024
Is this a movie about the ~1 million Iraqis that were killed?
— Joey Gallant (@JoeGallantSoul) December 16, 2024
Funny, destroyed a country based on a lie, terrorized its people and now you're romanticizing your terrorism
— Sasuke Ourad (@SasukeOurad) December 16, 2024
“Iraq War veteran” you mean terrorist? pic.twitter.com/6FQv4KBsiT
— Lu’ai // (@AgelessElegy) December 16, 2024
