Fighting for Life

This film is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen. Sanders does a great job at capturing the essence of what war is like for the doctors, nurses, soldiers, and military families. The film is intelligently done because it provides an apolitical view of the war. There is no agenda; this is the reality of war. He also provides the viewer with proof of why the military medical school, USU, is needed. I would recommend this film to anyone. If one wants to know what military medicine is about, see this film. There is a great amount of history in it as well. One can learn about how the Civil War advanced medicine through techniques like amputations (yes, this was an advance at the time believe it or not).

Military medicine -- it's a breed apart from most other medical practice in gore, urgency, and sheer intensity. That's the message this film conveys. That and the need to train up doctors and nurses who are ready, willing, and able to deal with the stress. Do your Harvard doctors train to handle a mass casualty event in the dark of night, under fire? Thought not. As a movie, the documentary succeeds (obviously) in holding your interest throughout. You will find yourself very often having to wipe away tears so you can keep watching. I took one star off because the movie doesn't build to some kind of climactic visionary ending that lifts you out of your seat. But maybe that's the point: These docs perform like this day in and day out, and the only release worth talking about is the release of the wounded soldier back into a society that we only hope will appropriately honor him or her for their sacrifice. Veteran Director Sanders' sure hand in constructing this documentary is evident in every frame.

This film tells a very real story, one that has occurred for thousands of severely injured service members, tens of thousands of military and VA healthcare providers, and hundreds of thousands of other service members and their families.

As a USUHS graduate, I know that the training was as tough as USUHS could make it, but that tragically, it was very well done -- in ways that the past >10 years of war have proved, and as depicted in this stunning masterpiece film.

Every American, every elected official, and every lover of peace and democracy should watch the film, to witness the sacrifices that some have made in the name of liberty and safety from terrorism. The price paid by some will continue for at least two more generations, as these wounded families all over the world continue to heal.

This is a must see! No scripts, no sets, no second takes, no lighting, everything in the movie is as it was seen live by the producer Terry Sanders. If you want to know the reality of what medicine in the Army is like and how soldiers wounded in Iraq are cared for, don't listen to all the media hype about the Walter Reed scandal, go see this movie. It intertwines 3 stories about Army medical care. First, it follows the saga of soldiers wounded in Iraq and their journey home through hospitals in Iraq, then Germany and finally Walter Reed in Washington D.C. Second, it chronicles the stories of the doctors, nurses and medics that care for the wounded. Finally, it follows students training to be military doctors at the "West Point" of military medicine, the Uniformed Services University at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

Absolutely accurate , gritty, and heroic portrayal of our Heroes. Doesn't matter what your political orientation is, or how you feel about the war, your heartstrings will be plucked by this movie, and you will have a better understanding of people that make this Country so great. All of us have been touched by, or have a family member touched by, this war. This film helps us get a better understanding of them and through what they have gone. If you had any doubt about the future of humanity, and concern about it's modern decay, seeing the Heroes portrayed here will fix that in a minute. I was in Fallujah in 2006, and tremendously appreciate the huge risk that the filmmakers have taken to portray the indescribable spirit and courageousness that is displayed as an every minute occurrence there.