Kilo Two Bravo (2014)

True story of British soldiers stuck in a minefield, where even a wrong step can mean death, after an accident during their deployment in Afghanistan. It is a honest endeavour into capturing the battle scene, neither is there any effort to exaggerate it neither to sentimentalize it, but only to show the reality. And it has no agenda, it doesn't debates on why they went into Afghanistan and whether it was right or wrong. It is free of glamour and glitz that we are accustomed to through big budget American war films and the agenda that they carry. According to experts it is horrifyingly authentic in its portrayal. This film brings to the screen the brutality of mines and one can't help but compare this with what our soldiers, of Pakistan army, have been experiencing in northern areas. A must see as it reminds us the bitter realities of war.

Fmovies: Being honest in day-to-day life is tough enough. Being honest when you are telling the story of a bunch of hairy-arsed British paras caught up in a minefield in the middle of a nihilistic and nasty little war is a huge challenge. As noted in other reviews, the easy option is to exaggerate, sentimentalise, put vaseline on the lens and fill the air with swooping strings: anything to get away from the reality of what did happen. Kajaki does none of the above. It stays honest and keeps its nerve and challenges you to keep yours, even as yet another shredded leg stabs at the screen. Out of the horror and ugliness is created a clear and radiant beauty born of comradeship, valour and truth. This is the shining soul of Kajaki, something that most films don't even know they lack.

As a big film fan I spend half my day reading the trivia and quotes of famous film makers. Recently I read a quote from Peter Jackson about how he hopes cinema returns to it's more 'original' ways. In a time where re-makes or adapted screenplays are the only films being made, it's Kajaki that's leading in the way in bringing back original cinema. It's been branded as the British Hurt Locker, and it could well be if it has a good scoop at the BAFTA's this year (I think it will). But has has more similarities with big box office hit Lone Survivor with it being a true story. HOWEVER both Hurt Locker and Lone Survivor are so glamorised and glossed over they're as far from true realities of war and military action as Kim Kardashian in her 'Break The Internet' magazine spread. Kajaki doesn't even have the subtle background music every film need. It's so good it has no music! That's a massive achievement. Tell me a good film that's done that! A film that will move you, terrify you and restore your faith in cinema. Just go see it.

Kilo Two Bravo fmovies. Whatever your views on the war in Afghanistan, this film is an absolute must see. It does not seek to glamorise the cause or glorify the British and American forces. It does not say "them bad us good", and conversely it does not say the allies were arrogant pricks, barging in to a country without rhyme or reason. To do so would miss the real point of the film: which is love, love through adversity.

We meet a team of British soldiers holding a position against the Taliban somewhere above the Kajaki dam. However, the presence of the Taliban is merely peripheral and during the course of the film they instead face four very apposite enemies: boredom; incompetence; lack of resources; and a valley full of old Russian land mines. What holds them together through the hardships they endure, both very real and perceived, is love – and lots and lots of banter.

Kajaki does away with the traditional paraphernalia of war films: billowing musical scores, slow-mos, and poignant flashbacks. Quite simply, it doesn't have to, because it isn't one. Instead we are given a film that is clear, crisp and clean; that is relentless, remorseless and uncompromising. The acting is impeccable, the direction and production sublime. It is tense, tragic, uplifting and heart-breaking all at once. Quite simply, it is a love story: love for your country, love for the job, love for your mates. Go see it and be prepared to have your mind blown open by what true love can achieve.

I was privileged to attend one of four UK regional charity premieres on Tuesday 25 November ahead of the UK general release at VUE Cinemas on Friday 28 November. Each premiere was located in or near the home town of one the soldiers portrayed in the film such that family and friends could attend, and where possible, the actual people portrayed on- screen too. Bristol is the home town of Stu Hale who was portrayed on- screen by Benjamin O'Mahony. Stu was present at the screening and answered questions with the cast and crew at the Q&A afterwards. A portion of all the ticket sales across the UK goes directly to charities supporting returning servicemen and servicewomen. This all speaks to the very special nature of this film. In his introduction before the screening, director Paul Katis described it as a modern war film. It is indeed, and it takes an honourably neutral view of the conflict. At its heart this is the true story of a group of extremely brave men facing a difficult situation.

The action takes place back in September 2006 in Afghanistan where a British army unit is responsible for the security at a key dam, which when fully commissioned, will provide hydroelectric power. Unbeknownst to them, the area is also home to a minefield left-over from the Soviet invasion in 1979/80. On a routine security patrol some of the unit find themselves trapped in the minefield when one of them is seriously injured after stepping upon a mine. Over the course of the film we get to learn more about the characters and see many examples of extraordinary bravery, all of which actually happened.

This is powerful storytelling and writer Tom Williams has crafted a screenplay which reflects the truth and helps the audience understand the complexities of the situation. It walks the difficult line between intense and life-threatening action vs. the humour which people can use as a coping mechanism in such situations. Director Paul Katis holds nothing back and the full horrors of war are on display here, including some graphic injuries. This is all done in a non-gratuitous way and is part of the brutal and uncomfortable honesty of the events.

I, along with the rest of the audience, sat on the edge of my seat and there are several moments of shocking surprise throughout this tense thriller. This is a film worth going to see in cinemas with an audience and at my screening several spontaneous rounds of applause broke out at key moments in the end credits. Highly recommended.

Incredibly tough and gritty film, the least glamorous war film I've ever seen, but the portrait of a group of men coping with the most horrendous suffering - because they're all in it together - is something that utterly transcends the banal clichés of the form (cliches that we glimpse in the early scenes, the familiar rookie arriving and having everything explained, the safe and cleanly photographed long distance fire fight), and raises it to an extra level. Their patience is almost Christlike; the 'Happy Birthday' scene is something totally unlike anything else I've ever seen in a British movie. (I can only compare it with some of the old Polish films about the Warsaw uprising - but this is funnier!) Brilliant, brave and grimly funny. I took my sixteen year old son - this should be compulsory viewing for kids of the video game generation, specially if they're thinking of any kind of uniformed career. A hundred times better than such recent fare as 'Lone Survivor' or 'Fury' - I can't recommend this enough.