Danish Soldiers Focus on Oscar Nominated "A War"

‘A War’: Oscar nominee turns on battle in Afghanistan Danish film captures moral dilemma, human drama
Washington Times
By Emery A. Popoloski
February 26, 2016
Author’s note: This review of the Oscar-nominated movie “A War” includes spoilers.

Recently, I had the chance to watch and review an Oscar nominated film titled “A War” written and directed by Tobias Lindholm. What really intrigued me about this film is that it is about Danish soldiers fighting in the current war in Afghanistan. Although the soldiers were not American, many of the issues faced by the Danish soldiers were similar to those faced by American soldiers. Lindholm also included veterans and Afghan refugees in the film as extended cast members.

The film centers on the company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk) and his men who are in Afghanistan. At home Pedersen’s wife, Maria (Tuva Novotny) is managing three young children, who are also affected by their father’s deployment and acting out. Pedersen and his men are ambushed, which leads Pedersen to make a split second decision, who gets to live and who dies. A moral dilemma faced by many combat veterans regardless of their nationality.

Throughout the film Lindholm successfully weaves the story of not only what Pedersen is going through, but also the stories of his family back home, the soldiers, and innocent Afghanistan civilians. Lindholm thankfully does not make any charged political statements in the film. Instead, he explores the lines between what is morally acceptable and what needs to be done to survive when in war, including the unintended consequences.
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Number Danish troops suffering from PTSD "far higher" than they thought

More soldiers than expected suffering from PTSD
The Copenhagen Post
Christian Wenande
October 11, 2013

“We’ve just started seeing the Iraq lads begin showing up [for treatment] within the last six months, and now the Afghan boys are beginning to trickle in,” Yeh told Information. “And they’re going to keep coming in for the next ten years, at least.”

Central Jutland health region, Aarhus University Hospital and Odense University Hospital have all seen more cases than expected

A spokesperson for veteran said that the number of soldiers seeking PTSD treatment will only keep rising

The number of soldiers in need of treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after their return home from active duty are far higher than previously believed.

The revelations came this week from the health minister, Astrid Krag (Socialistik Folkeparti), who informed parliament’s health committee, Folketingets Sundhedsudvalg, about the rising PTSD problem.

According to Information newspaper, the psychiatric department at Odense University Hospital originally expected to treat 20 soldiers for PTSD each year, but has revised its predictions after treating 56 in 2012.
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