December 8, 2022
FILM: RETROGRADE
DIRECTED BY MATTHEW HEINEMAN
RATING: 3 1/2 STARS (Out of 4)
BY Dan Pal
How many of us are truly cognizant of when America’s longest war took place? We don’t have to look further back then the 21st Century to find the answer. Thousands of American service people died in Afghanistan in the twenty years that we were stationed there. In 2021, the order was given for a full withdrawal from the country even though we hadn’t “won” anything and the dangers of the Taliban still remained. Award-winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman’s new documentary from National Geographic Films, Retrograde, offers footage from our final days in the country and then documentation of the sad aftermath in the months that followed.
The term, “retrograde” means leaving a war zone. It happens with every war but this one was particularly difficult because we had been there so long and many were not sure what had been gained. In January of 2021, the Green Berets were still assisting the Afghan army with weapons and military training. As the film depicts, a considerable rapport and respect had been developed between the two sides as they prepared for any attacks from the Taliban. It’s interesting to see so many of our guys out of uniform with full beards as they work together with the Afghan soldiers. Heineman provides a strong sense of the teamwork and comradery that developed between the men of both sides. We see them visiting hospitals, sharing cigars, and freely conversing. These scenes humanize a people that has been too often misrepresented by our media. When the announcement of the withdrawal is made, there is not celebration, instead we see the look of fear on both sides as well as a sadness for the breaking of this partnership. Heineman infuses these scenes with a lot of long held close-up shots of the men as well as some very sad, maudlin music which only further puts a rubber stamp on the feelings of loss and disappointment that fell amongst them. Is it heavy handed? Perhaps, but the sentiment is pretty truthful and real.
Heineman then offers interesting footage of the destruction of documents, computers, and even care packages. None of these were authorized to remain once the Americans left. Eventually the Afghan soldiers take over the base and the Green Berets are gone. For most of the second half of the film we feel that sense of loss. Not only are we not seeing the American heroes anymore on screen but neither are the Afghans who worked so close to them to fight off the Taliban. Heineman and his small crew were given access to all that followed from battles filled with many injured servicemen to the psychological tolls and stresses this now placed upon the soldiers and, in particular, General Sadat, who had also become quite close with the Americans.
The footage is very intense and disheartening. Heineman is there at the battle lines and later is present as many Afghans attempt to leave for America on the few planes available to take them away from the impending Taliban takeover. The scenes of families being separated and begging to be taken away from Afghanistan is intense as it unfolds quite dramatically.
In the end, the film doesn’t provide any answers to whether our involvement was ever truly necessary or whether we should have withdrawn when we did. Statistics are offered as to the numbers of people that perished due to this war and the continued dangers to both sides are clearly illustrated. What Retrograde represents is a piece of our history that will forever be examined by historians. It’s also a very humanizing look at our relationships during times of war that can be easily severed by swift decisions often not made by the people most involved.
Retrograde premieres today on National Geographic and tomorrow on Disney+. Beginning December 11th the film is scheduled to be streamed on Hulu.
FILM: RETROGRADE
DIRECTED BY MATTHEW HEINEMAN
RATING: 3 1/2 STARS (Out of 4)
BY Dan Pal
How many of us are truly cognizant of when America’s longest war took place? We don’t have to look further back then the 21st Century to find the answer. Thousands of American service people died in Afghanistan in the twenty years that we were stationed there. In 2021, the order was given for a full withdrawal from the country even though we hadn’t “won” anything and the dangers of the Taliban still remained. Award-winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman’s new documentary from National Geographic Films, Retrograde, offers footage from our final days in the country and then documentation of the sad aftermath in the months that followed.
The term, “retrograde” means leaving a war zone. It happens with every war but this one was particularly difficult because we had been there so long and many were not sure what had been gained. In January of 2021, the Green Berets were still assisting the Afghan army with weapons and military training. As the film depicts, a considerable rapport and respect had been developed between the two sides as they prepared for any attacks from the Taliban. It’s interesting to see so many of our guys out of uniform with full beards as they work together with the Afghan soldiers. Heineman provides a strong sense of the teamwork and comradery that developed between the men of both sides. We see them visiting hospitals, sharing cigars, and freely conversing. These scenes humanize a people that has been too often misrepresented by our media. When the announcement of the withdrawal is made, there is not celebration, instead we see the look of fear on both sides as well as a sadness for the breaking of this partnership. Heineman infuses these scenes with a lot of long held close-up shots of the men as well as some very sad, maudlin music which only further puts a rubber stamp on the feelings of loss and disappointment that fell amongst them. Is it heavy handed? Perhaps, but the sentiment is pretty truthful and real.
Heineman then offers interesting footage of the destruction of documents, computers, and even care packages. None of these were authorized to remain once the Americans left. Eventually the Afghan soldiers take over the base and the Green Berets are gone. For most of the second half of the film we feel that sense of loss. Not only are we not seeing the American heroes anymore on screen but neither are the Afghans who worked so close to them to fight off the Taliban. Heineman and his small crew were given access to all that followed from battles filled with many injured servicemen to the psychological tolls and stresses this now placed upon the soldiers and, in particular, General Sadat, who had also become quite close with the Americans.
The footage is very intense and disheartening. Heineman is there at the battle lines and later is present as many Afghans attempt to leave for America on the few planes available to take them away from the impending Taliban takeover. The scenes of families being separated and begging to be taken away from Afghanistan is intense as it unfolds quite dramatically.
In the end, the film doesn’t provide any answers to whether our involvement was ever truly necessary or whether we should have withdrawn when we did. Statistics are offered as to the numbers of people that perished due to this war and the continued dangers to both sides are clearly illustrated. What Retrograde represents is a piece of our history that will forever be examined by historians. It’s also a very humanizing look at our relationships during times of war that can be easily severed by swift decisions often not made by the people most involved.
Retrograde premieres today on National Geographic and tomorrow on Disney+. Beginning December 11th the film is scheduled to be streamed on Hulu.