Synopsis:
“It wasn’t as though we wasn’t ready to get to war – everyone was fully prepared. It was coming home that people wasn’t ready for.” For young Guardsman Tromans, life after Iraq is every bit as difficult as being in the front line. In moving poetry written by Simon Armitage, and personal testimonials, Tromans and other British soldiers speak about coping with the horrors of serving overseas, from full on combat, to standing by helplessly while witnessing atrocities. But returning home brings its own horrors: living life as a Not Dead. Patriotic and devoted to Queen and country, the psychological neglect these men experience back home is painful, embittering and soul-destroying, their recollections tearful even years on.
Festivals
Sheffield International Documentary Festival 2007
Synopsis:
“It wasn’t as though we wasn’t ready to get to war – everyone was fully prepared. It was coming home that people wasn’t ready for.” For young Guardsman Tromans, life after Iraq is every bit as difficult as being in the front line. In moving poetry written by Simon Armitage, and personal testimonials, Tromans and other British soldiers speak about coping with the horrors of serving overseas, from full on combat, to standing by helplessly while witnessing atrocities. But returning home brings its own horrors: living life as a Not Dead. Patriotic and devoted to Queen and country, the psychological neglect these men experience back home is painful, embittering and soul-destroying, their recollections tearful even years on.