The Yellow Birds (2017)

The Yellow Birds Poster

Two young soldiers, Bartle and Murph, navigate the terrors of the Iraq war under the command of the older, troubled Sergeant Sterling. All the while, Bartle is tortured by a promise he made to Murph's mother before their deployment.

Synopsis
"The Yellow Birds" is a 2017 American war film directed by Alexandre Moors, based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Powers. The film stars Tye Sheridan, Alden Ehrenreich, Toni Collette, Jason Patric, and Jennifer Aniston. The plot follows two young soldiers, Brandon Bartle (Alden Ehrenreich) and Daniel Murphy (Tye Sheridan), who create a deep bond during their implementation in Iraq. This bond is soon tested as they deal with the harsh truth of war and its consequences. Upon returning home, Bartle has a hard time to adapt and is haunted by the memory of his fallen good friend and the unanswered questions about what happened to Murphy.

Plot
In a village in Virginia, Bartle and Murphy, two Army enlistees, get ready for their release to Iraq. Prior to they leave, Murphy's mother, Maureen (Jennifer Aniston), makes Bartle pledge to look after her boy and bring him back home safely. Bartle agrees, but he soon realizes that keeping this guarantee will be harder than he could have envisioned.

In Iraq, the soldiers are thrust into the mayhem and cruelty of war. Bartle and Murphy quickly bond, with Bartle defending Murphy in the face of their aggressive sergeant, Sterling (Jack Huston) and taking on a protective role. Nevertheless, as the days develop into months, and the war takes its toll, the true horror of their circumstance becomes apparent.

Catastrophe strikes when Murphy goes missing throughout a dangerous mission. Bartle is unable to keep him safe and is ravaged by the loss of his pal. Despite encountering insurgents, witnessing casualties, and facing his mortality, Bartle's main issue is learning what genuinely took place to Murphy.

When Bartle eventually returns from the war, he feels damaged and has a hard time to fit back into civilian life. Haunted by the memory of Murphy, he is tormented by regret and the unsolved questions surrounding his pal's disappearance. Bartle's frame of mind degrades as he has a hard time to maintain relationships and to discover solace, consisting of with his mother, Amy (Toni Collette).

Meanwhile, Maureen becomes progressively desperate in her look for answers about her son's fate. Thinking that Bartle knows more than he is revealing, she confronts him and demands the reality. The movie slowly unravels the truth about Murphy's disappearance, clarifying the painful information and the lengths one soldier went to secure their own.

Styles
The film checks out a number of themes surrounding the results of war on both soldiers and their households.

One of the primary themes in "The Yellow Birds" is the bond in between soldiers who experience war together. Bartle and Murphy share a close, brotherly connection, created under severe conditions and tense circumstances. This bond highlights the power of human connection throughout times of challenge and suffering.

Another theme is the mental impacts of wartime experiences. The movie depicts the PTSD that numerous soldiers face upon returning home, in addition to the feeling numb and disconnection that can arise from seeing harsh events. Bartle's character arc shows the problem some people deal with when trying to reintegrate into society after experiencing the scaries of war.

Finally, the motion picture attends to the suffering and unpredictability faced by households left. Maureen's desperation to find the fact shows the stress and anxiety and worry often felt by enjoyed ones of soldiers who are unaccounted for or eliminated in action.

Conclusion
"The Yellow Birds" is a compelling, character-driven war drama that looks into the psychological trauma and challenges sustained by soldiers and their families. With strong efficiencies and a poignant narrative, the film shines a light on the bonds formed by those serving in battle, along with the mental toll handled those who survive. Eventually, it acts as a powerful representation of war's long lasting effect on both the individual and the communities they go back to.

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