Refugees are angry with the United States because Bush promised them help, but once he signed a cease-fire, the refugees were abandoned. Now, they are at the mercy of any Iraqi soldiers. As the U.S. soldiers watch, their hearts begin to open. Those actions are too much for them, so they decide to help the refugees escape to Iran. Unconventional is probably the best way to describe the first third of the movie.
Scenes alternate between extremely grainy to unnaturally clear to a shaky-cam style.
Scenes freeze and then unfreeze at a moments notice. Bright white clouds fly quickly over the heads of the soldiers, giving them what seems to be a halo. Sand and debris from explosions flies out right into the camera until you can see the individual grains. The continually varying styles lend an air of uneasiness to the movie. One of the main themes is the wrongfulness of violence.