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Armadillo

Play trailer Poster for Armadillo 2011 1h 40m Documentary War Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Armadillo

Armadillo

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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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Critics Reviews

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Linda Barnard Toronto Star Jul 3, 2011
3.5/4
Lets the soldiers tell their stories by the way they live day-to-day during their tour of duty. Go to Full Review Ray Bennett The Hollywood Reporter Jul 1, 2011
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. Go to Full Review Wesley Morris Boston Globe Jun 23, 2011
2.5/4
It's alluring to watch. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Mar 1, 2021
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. Go to Full Review Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Aug 5, 2019
3/4
A searing and unforgettable portrait of a modern warfare, a clear eyed exploration of the motivations and the drive of the modern soldier. Go to Full Review Michael Atkinson In These Times Apr 18, 2016
The scenes of camaraderie and trial pile up, unmitigated by the sufferings of the Afghans being bombed and shot in the process. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ian S @RT48225084 Sep 25, 2026 Good war doco with a lot of ugly truths. See more Jun 17, 2015 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!!! See more Apr 14, 2015 Frighteningly immersive, and startlingly different from a US equivalent. Powerful and significant. See more Gina W @RT47387387 Mar 3, 2015 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. See more Dec 24, 2014 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. See more Dec 18, 2014 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! See more Read all reviews
Armadillo

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Cast & Crew

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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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Armadillo

Armadillo (2010) A scene from "Armadillo." A scene from "Armadillo." View more photos

Movie Info

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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