LONE SURVIVOR

US, 2013, 121 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Eric Banna.
Directed by Peter Berg.

Lone Survivor is a strongly American patriotic film. In the first week of its release in the United States it was the top of the box office.

It is best to give a warning for audiences. If you do not want to spend two gruelling hours in the cinema, best to let it go. With its close-up of a mission, and the close-up fighting, it is a particularly visceral film. We are so immersed in the mission and the fighting – and wounding and death – that it is a tough movie experience.

The film is based on a true story, an American mission in Afghanistan in 2005, targeting an Al Qaeda leader, but the mission ending in failure. As can be seen from the title, there is only one survivor.

The timing of the film’s release is interesting. Had it been soon after the actual mission in 2005, with memories of 9/11 still vivid, it might have been used as propaganda for the American presence in Afghanistan, the war against terror and against Al Qaeda. However, it was released at the end of 2013, with the imminent withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. Many watching the film and being stirred by it, by American military prowess, by the antagonism towards the Taliban, might have thought that the withdrawal of the troops was a wrong decision.

During the film, in a particularly difficult situation where the squad on mission are discovered by goatherds and they have to decide what they will do, various stances are discussed: whether to kill the men and save lives, how to apply the rules of engagement, investigations into military behaviour. The four men on mission show the different attitudes towards their mission and hostility towards Afghans and the Taliban.

The leader is played by Taylor Kitsch, making the decisions but also putting forward all the options. Emile Hirsch is a young man caught up in the aggression. Ben Foster (who in many films has shown himself a sinister presence, sometimes villain) is aggressively gung-ho. Mark Wahlberg plays the older member of the group, more common-sensed, Marcus Luttrell. It is his memoir on which the film is based.

Prior to the mission, we are introduced to the men, Navy SEALS, their presence in Afghanistan, their skills and training. Their commander is played by Eric Bana.

Actual filming was done in New Mexico, mountains, forest and desert standing in for Afghanistan.

The writing is stronger than in many similar films and the audience has time to get to know the central characters and so identify with them during the mission, their hard decisions, the pursuit by the Taliban and their being wounded and dying.

However, the action then moves to the survival of the lone Navy SEAL. He is rescued by Afghan villagers who are then attacked by the pursuing Taliban, which makes the action a little more complex as the villagers fight back with guns and guard the American, and reactions to Afghans more complex. The survivor is wary at first, but then he is cared for because of the very long traditions of hospitality and care for guests that guide the people in the village. In part, Marcus Luttrell’s book is his opportunity to thank the Afghans for their kindness and care, and the final credits, showing photos or home movie footage of the members of the mission, also includes a photo of Luttrell in 2010 with his Afghan friend.

1. The film based on a true story? 2005? The situation in Afghanistan? The mission? Against Al Qaeda? Failure? The end and the photos of the participants?

2. Marcus Lutrell and his book? The experience of this mission? His being a navy SEAL, in Afghanistan, his place in the mission, the failure of the mission, his survival? His tribute to the Afghans?

3. Filming in New Mexico, the mountains, the forests, the deserts, the equivalent of Afghanistan? The village? A sense of realism?

4. The headquarters, the various bases, planes and helicopters, tarmacs? The communications equipment? Living conditions?

5. The film as patriotic, American-style? The impact of 9/11? The declaration of war on Afghanistan? American troops, the presence, their role? Military? Support?

6. The film offering a picture of the Americans in Afghanistan? Some critique? The Afghans and American vengeance after 9/11? The war on terror? The desire to find Osama bin Laden? Military action? American advice? The targets? The explanations?

7. The commander, as a person, relating to his men, decisive, communicating, frustrated during the mission, the break in communications? His responsibility?

8. The men, the background of each of them, the personal stories? Navy SEALS? Training and its rigour? Skills? Relaxation, music and singing, the young recruit and his performance? Camaraderie?

9. The mission, the explanation, the equipment? Going by helicopter, the landing? Taking positions, climbing the mountains? Settling in, surveillance, seeing the target, the Taliban compound, waiting, the radio contacts?

10. The goats, the goatherds, the young men? Silence, deciding to capture them? Axe and his hostility, aggressiveness? The four men and their motivations? The discussion as to what they should do: rules of engagement, killing the enemy, saving lives, letting them go? The various arguments? Impassioned? The decision to let them go, their running down the mountain, informing the Taliban?

11. The retreat, climbing the mountain, finding the cliff? They’re being trapped? Communications off and on? At headquarters, getting the commander? Their weapons, killing the men advancing, falling off the cliff, rolling down the cliff, their wounds? Gathering together? Defending themselves? Hiding? The continual advance of the Taliban?

12. The full experience of this mission, gruelling for an audience, participating with the men, the visceral experience throughout?

13. Daniel, young, aggressive, being wounded, his bewilderment, shouting aloud, his death?

14. Mickey, in command, the arguments, making the decisions? His being wounded, climbing to the rock, setting the radio? His death?

15. Axe, his character, hard, aggressive, memories of home, the girl, talking things over with Marcus? His surviving the longest, killing the enemy, his wounds, his death?

16. Marcus, following the decisions, being wounded, his fleeing from the mountains after being quiet, presumed dead? In the water and his drinking? Been found by the Afghans, their taking him to the village, the care, his instant suspicions? The little boy, the food and drink? Language difficulties, the issue of the knife and the boy bringing the duck? the elder bringing the knife?

17. The hospitality, the shelter, the effect on the people in the village? Their long tradition of hospitality?

18. The Taliban, confronting the people in the village, accusing them, the attack, its brutality, the fight, each side having weapons, deaths, hiding the American?

19. The timing, the helicopters flying over, the previous explosion of the helicopter? Reinforcements, the coming to the village, rescuing Marcus? Marcus wanting to take the little boy? His gratitude towards the Afghans?

20. The film story in the retrospective 2013, the eight years of American presence and fighting, the prospect of troop withdrawal? The continuing influence of the Taliban and its activities? Terrorism?

21. The ending, the credits, the tribute to the men, the photos and home movies? Marcus being seen with his Afghan rescuer?