Armadillo

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Armadillo

Released Apr 15, 2011

1h 40m

Documentary

War

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

From a farewell party with strippers to the front lines of the war in Afghanistan, this documentary follows a group of Danish soldiers who face the extremes of boredom and firefights in a puzzling war. The cameras roll as troubling incidents force the soldiers to question the goals of the military campaign and the nature of their own humanity. The troops also discuss the differences between their own upbringing and the lives of the Afghan peasants who bear the brunt of the violence.

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Critics Consensus

Capturing both the lulls and terror during warfare, Armadillo is a viscerally filmed documentary that brings audiences alarmingly close to the frontlines of combat.

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Linda Barnard

Toronto Star

Lets the soldiers tell their stories by the way they live day-to-day during their tour of duty.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 3, 2011

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Ray Bennett

The Hollywood Reporter

When the bombs go off and the bullets start flying, Metz and his cameraman provide a real-life vision of what a hurt locker is really all about.

Jul 1, 2011

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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

It's alluring to watch.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 23, 2011

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The creators of the Danish documentary, Armadillo, about the Afghan war, lacked the moral or political fortitude required to make a film critical of imperialism.

Mar 1, 2021

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A searing and unforgettable portrait of a modern warfare, a clear eyed exploration of the motivations and the drive of the modern soldier.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 5, 2019

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Michael Atkinson

In These Times

The scenes of camaraderie and trial pile up, unmitigated by the sufferings of the Afghans being bombed and shot in the process.

Apr 18, 2016

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Audience Member

6/17/15 Netflix Documentaries ace Hollywood every time. This movie gives a gritty, up close no holds barred look at war and its impact on the men who participate in it. Real soldiers, real action and real emotions. The Director and Cinematographer are as courageous as the soldiers they are covering. They are right in the middle of it and the viewer can see it and feel it. Well Done!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Frighteningly immersive, and startlingly different from a US equivalent. Powerful and significant.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

I thought this movie was well shot. The film avoids judgments for or against the war, and instead shows the soldiers struggling to maintain their humanity in a world filled with violence.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

It doesn't bother me if a documentary is staged or scripted or mostly assembled in the editing room, but it's nice when you can't tell. Even if it wasn't, this movie frequently feels staged, and the best sequence is a minimally-edited battle towards the end that maintains an extraordinary level of tension simply through the act of documenting. They're an interesting group of guys, but as the main subject doesn't appear to be very dynamic and just kind of fades into the background, there aren't any stand-out characters to latch onto and it feels a bit rambling and impersonal.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Audience Member

Who would have thought the best war documentary of the century would be danish. Its dramatic and gripping and shot by cameramen with some serious balls!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

If Restrepo deserves the best credit for a military documentary. This Danish well made documentary deserves another praise of credits as these soldiers made to sacrifice their own lives for their country and their family. Though there are some scenes that they are just having fun that cause its somewhat boredom. But the insights of these soldiers are worth a watch especially when the trouble comes. You are starting to wonder how did they survive for those six months of combat.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Janus Metz

Director

Kasper Torsting

Writer

Tabitha Jackson

Executive Producer

Ronnie Fridthjof

Producer

Sara Stockmann

Producer

Uno Helmersson

Original Music

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Synopsis

From a farewell party with strippers to the front lines of the war in Afghanistan, this documentary follows a group of Danish soldiers who face the extremes of boredom and firefights in a puzzling war. The cameras roll as troubling incidents force the soldiers to question the goals of the military campaign and the nature of their own humanity. The troops also discuss the differences between their own upbringing and the lives of the Afghan peasants who bear the brunt of the violence.

Director: Janus Metz
Producer: Ronnie Fridthjof, Sara Stockmann
Screenwriter: Kasper Torsting
Distributor: Lorber Films
Production Co: Fridthjof Film
Genre: Documentary, War
Original Language: Danish
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.3K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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