Introduction
The Tillman Story is a 2010 documentary and drama movie directed by Amir Bar-Lev. This is a heartbreaking, inspiring, and truth-revealing film about the U.S. government’s and army’s conspiracy and attempts to bury the appalling errors that led to the death of football star Pat Tillman. In this only 94 minutes’ movie, the director managed to informatively summarize the story and convey strong emotions by skillfully using the light and camera work when interviewing Pat’s family members and other people.
The Tillman Story
To begin with, The Tillman Story is a really emotional and truth-revealing documentary that rarely leaves its viewers indifferent. It follows the story of Pat Tillman’s death and his family’s nervous and long journey to make the government admit its mistakes (Mondello, 2010). Tillman died in Afghanistan by friendly fire, but the authorities decided to make him a hero and use his death to celebrate the strength and bravery of American soldiers. When watching this movie, most people find it terrifying to process this story and make sure that this is a documentary, not a fantasy film. It is evident that emotions and feelings were essential for Amir Bar-Lev. This was greatly achieved by how the light and camera were set when shooting the interviews. For example, close-up and medium close-up shots generate stronger emotions and make the viewers feel empathetic for the interviewer and the story they tell. Further, the kicker lighting effect creates an atmosphere of grief, mystery, and anonymity.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, one may say that precisely these effects contribute to the film’s intention to reveal the truth and show that the U.S. government is not perfect. On the contrary, it makes horrible mistakes more often and secretly than one can imagine. This movie is not a tragedy of one family – it is the story of the whole nation, and it is essential for people to feel it and consider this new information.
Reference
Mondello, B. (2010). ‘The Tillman Story’: One family’s quest for the truth. National Public Radio.