Army Specialist Crystal Davis is the heroine of ''Fighting for Life,'' a documentary about medical care in the Iraq War. (Courtesy photo)

By Bob Polunsky
Movie Critic

“Fighting for Life” is like a “M.A.S.H.” episode – without a single scrap of humor.

It was filmed in hospitals in both the U.S. and Iraq to show how the wounded are treated and how their treatment affects the world around them. They have been unsung heroes and heroines up to now. “Fighting for Life” gives them a chance to be seen and heard.

The true-life documentary is structured like a good war movie that spotlights battle victims instead of doctors. The primary victim in the film is a woman, reminding us that women have been as seriously affected as men in the Iraqi war.

Army Specialist Crystal Davis is the heroine. She lost a leg in the course of fighting for her country. Her fight for life is shown in detail to reflect her attitude and personal feelings while she recuperates at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Other scenes show military doctors learning to deal with the after-effects of chemical warfare, a comparatively new skill for them. We hear what they have to say and learn how they feel, and it makes it easier for us to understand and appreciate what medics in the military do before, during and after combat. Today’s battlefield problems are not the same as they were pictured in the flag-waving films made about both World Wars in the past.

Such horrifying sights as a close-up of a youngster with his legs blown off will shock you. So does the scene in which an Iraqi captain begs his doctors to kill him because he can’t cope with the pain. We also see and hear the frantic sounds of worried wives asking about their husbands’ chances for recovery. These scenes put realism into the picture and make it unforgettable.

The drama is basic; the performances are real. The most amazing thing about the film itself is the calmness of the doctors when they accept the responsibility of taking care of the wounded. When their calmness begins to fade, they look like they are about to reach a boiling point. That’s when they remind us of the characters in TV’s  “M.A.S.H.” without a sense of humor.

We also see medical students training to be doctors and doctors treating wounded men and women on the battlefield as well as in hospital operating rooms. These scenes are agonizing because we know they are actually happening in today’s world.

Seasoned Hollywood director Terry Sanders puts life into scenes of near-death. He apparently learned it by making successful war films with exceptional actors early in his career. One of his most noteworthy movies was 1962’s “War Hunt,” the film that introduced Robert Redford to moviegoers.

Directing “Fighting for Life” was obviously more difficult because it also shows wartime horrors from a woman’s perspective. Crystal Davis dominates the movie even though she doesn’t appear until it is halfway over. Her attitude about herself and her duty to her country are the film’s dominating factors. Most of her scenes are in close-ups to make it easier to understand the drama of her situation.

Most Hollywood movies use a lighter touch when dealing with death-defying scenes in order to keep the audience from turning away. “Fighting for Life” doesn’t have to do that. Turning away is not an option for an epic documentary that reflects life as it is today. 

Studio rating: Not rated but comparable to an R
Bob says: “A film to remember” 
4 Stars