Fighting for Life

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Fighting for Life

2008

1h 29m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In this documentary, filmmaker Terry Sanders examines from three different angles the lives of American soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film begins by tracing the journey home for wounded soldiers, from battlefield medics to American military hospitals in Germany to Washington D.C.'s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The focus then shifts to the doctors who care for wounded soldiers, and finally to medical students training for military service.

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Fighting for Life puts courageous faces on men and women who might otherwise be anonymous statistics at a time when injured soldiers are rarely seen on TV.

Mar 21, 2008

Full Review

Nick Pinkerton

Village Voice

Though in surer hands, the class's simulated mass-casualty situation, replete with ghoulish prosthetic wounds, might've been a masterpiece.

Mar 19, 2008

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Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

will prove deeply moving to audience members of any political persuasion.

Mar 18, 2008

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Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

If you're wondering where the heroes went, take a look at this group, and see if you're not impressed.

Oct 18, 2008

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Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters

Specialist Crystal Davis' story reflects many stories, her life changed forever, her efforts to meet all kinds of unanticipated challenges.

Apr 9, 2008

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Larry Ratliff

San Antonio Express-News

The no-frills yet deeply gripping manner this film uses to document this brave soldier's struggle for survival, then in rehab, should draw a salute from military personnel and civilians as well.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 7, 2008

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Audience Member

Deeply moving, insightful, painful. Shows all aspects of military medicine. How it affects those in the military medical system and those that are wounded.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

As an Air Force medic watching the faces of some I have actually worked with.....I am deeply touched by this movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Decent documentary about military physicians and nurses with a focus on the Iraq War. While the feel of being on the front line can be fascinating, the segments back in the US sometimes feel more like one big recruiting advertisement for Uniformed Services University (USU).

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hollywood should either set up web cams in Iraq and Afghanistan or forget making movies. The real soldiers fighting for their lives are the returning veterans and not just those with post traumatic stress disorder. Only one movie as of this date has dared film the Iraq theatre in depth with servicemen and women shooting footage and it was sponsored by religious organizations not commercial studios. For insight into how returning vets are treated and one who your letters could help see the web site www.freenestor.com. Even heroic plantoon leaders get falsely framed and arrested and end up fighting for their lives from behind bars. C'mon Holywood lets get real!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Terry Sanders

Director

Terry Sanders

Writer

Christine Z. Wiser

Writer

Terry Sanders

Producer

Tammy Alvarez

Executive Producer

Erik Daarstad

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

In this documentary, filmmaker Terry Sanders examines from three different angles the lives of American soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film begins by tracing the journey home for wounded soldiers, from battlefield medics to American military hospitals in Germany to Washington D.C.'s Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The focus then shifts to the doctors who care for wounded soldiers, and finally to medical students training for military service.

Director: Terry Sanders
Producer: Terry Sanders
Screenwriter: Terry Sanders, Christine Z. Wiser
Production Co: American Film Foundation, Sanders and Mock Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.6K
Runtime: 1h 29m