Ambitious and Effective Soldier's Experience

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2020)

As far as war movies go, this one is different. My only criticism might be the total lack of humor. As expected, It is certainly not a comedy, but lighthearted humor doesn't even come into the fray.
I thought the seamless continuous shot might be a gimmick that would bridal the film (I don't really see the need to avoid edits), but for this film, it is very effective. It pulls you in with our main character and as the film progresses, so does the immersion and the tension. You really do feel like you are experiencing everything as a witness.
On top of that, the cinematography is very ambitious....sometimes beautiful.
There are metaphors of the contrasts between innocence and aggression. They are well done and poignant. The score is grandiose if not a bit over the top, but it will undoubtedly allow your tears to well.
The acting is beyond reproach and the aftertaste is respect. We've all seen a lot of war movies. This one is less about bravado and more about humanity. Our hero is not the typical bad-ass, but rather a young man who is pretty much obliged against his instinct to complete a mission not only because he's following orders, but mostly for honor and his own soul. In that way, he becomes a hero.
Well done with some memorable scenes I will likely never forget.