Released on DVD/VOD earlier this month: A SECOND KNOCK AT THE DOOR
Christopher Grimes’ investigation of friendly fire deaths made its premiere on the festival circuit last Fall, screening at a handful of events and picking up awards at East Lansing, Sycamore, and Vegas Cine Fest. It has received a DVD/VOD release through Cinema Libre.
Grimes’ debut documentary explores the affecting stories of a number of families of US military accidentally slain by their fellow or allied combatants. The film effectively traces the recent history and changing perception of so-called “friendly fire,” including alterations to military notification policies intended to be more sympathetic to survivors. However, as illustrated through the stories of Sgt Lee Todacheene, PFC Jesse Buryj, and PFC David Sharrett II, among countless others, some cases of friendly fire remain either deliberately or unintentionally unreported and undisciplined, resulting in confusion, anger, and extended grief for the families. While the film demonstrates some roughness and a tendency to talking heads, there are also very effective, and disturbing, sequences from actual footage of friendly fire that bring the point very much home. Together with the heartfelt and passionate testimony of the profiled family members, this makes the film a valuable addition to the library of films exploring the US military.
what (not) to doc 