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'''''Armadillo''''' (2010) is a Danish documentary about the war in [[Afghanistan]]. The film follows thea group of young menDanish soldiers who are on their first mission in [[Helmand]]. The film premiered at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2010. It was aawarded partthe of''Grand thePrix de la [[Semaine de la Critique]] and competing for the [[Camera d'Or]]'.
DocumentThe documentary follows Danishthe progress of the soldiers whenas they travel from the comfort and security of a Nordic welfare state into the chaotic tribal society that is Afghanistan. It starts fromwith the scene oftheir last days Inin Denmark before leaving tofor Afghanistan. CeremonyScenes includesinclude warmtheir emotional goodbyes andas well as alsoa party with a striptease dancer.
Armadillo is Danish and British soldiers’ far post is in South Afghanistan. At the site soldiers receive last training where soldiers learn the importance of contacts with locals and hedging in the field.
Armadillo was the name of a "forward operating base" in Helmand province, Afghanistan that was home to some 170 Danish and British soldiers <ref>{{cite news |title= Armadillo: the Afghanistan war documentary that shocked Denmark|author= Geoffrey Macnab |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 3 June 2010 |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jun/03/armadillo-danish-documentary-afghanistan|accessdate= 4 December 2010}}</ref>. At the base soldiers received their final training where they were taught the importance of maintaining good relations with the locals. However relations with the locals are nevertheless portrayed as superficial. They hand out candy and gifts to the children while their communication with tribal leaders are conducted through the mediation of translators.
Relations to the locals remain facile. Soldiers only share candies and gifts to the kinds and gifts. Solders communicate with tribal leader with mediations of translators.
In thetheir camp soldiers spendidle away their leisure time with consolecomputer games and pornpornographic videos.
In their dutyThe soldiers encounter armed resistance from TalebansTaleban. In the ensuing battle many buildings are destroyed and livestock is killed. Some locallocals manage to receive compensations from the campbase.
A Danish commander officersbecomes becomea victim of a roadside bomb and he is fliedflown to Denmark becauseto ofreceive thetreatment for a skull fracture. He recovers and comes backreturns to Armadillo. Three Danish solders diesdie and documentthe followsdocumentary therecords their memorial service.
DocumentThe becamedocumentary famoushas become notorious because theof a scene wherein which a Danish soldier tosstosses a hand grenade tointo Talebansa Taleban shelter and another solder “neutralizes”“neutralises” wounded Talebans with his assault rifle. The victoryepisode turns intobecame a public scandal when one solder tellstold the story to his relatives and they contact withcontacted Danish military officials. Possible war crime leaks to media.
DirectorThe director Janus Metz sayshas said that he wanted to bring the war into the Danish living room and considerto examine the themes of manhood and violence {{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}.
==Other films by Janus Metz:==
*Fra Thy til Thailand / Ticket to Paradise (2008)
*Fra Thailand til Thy / Love on Delivery (2008)
*Township Boys / Township Boys (2006)
==External links==
* [http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/danishfilms/dffilm.aspx?id=21446 LOVE ON DELIVERY]
* [http://www.dfi.dk/faktaomfilm/danishfilms/dffilm.aspx?id=19389 TOWNSHIP BOYS]
==References==
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