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   Most war movies (and especially documentaries) are expected to take a stance on the subject. It's almost impossible for filmmakers to not show their pro- or anti-war sentiments in their film. However, the Little Rock native Renaud brothers have filmed quite possibly the most politically neutral war documentary ever with their film "Off to War." The film contains no narration; only the soldiers and their families are shown talking.

   Another unique thing about this film is the lack of music; only the beginning credits and end credits contain any sort of score. The rest of "Off to War" is eerily quiet, reinforcing the idea that you aren't watching a Jerry Bruckheimer action flick, but real life. The film follows the soldiers of the 39th Brigade, as the Arkansas National Guard unit spends its first year in Iraq. Immediately, the situation turns to hell as the trucks they are given are unarmored and at best decrepit. A sergeant demands that everyone wear Kevlar "24/7" when they are outside their trailers. Reality sinks in as you realize these are not the well-equipped soldiers being advertised on television. They are simply a group of engineers trying to rebuild a country torn apart by war.

   While the unit was deployed for civic missions, they quickly encounter combat as their Humvees are attacked by rocket-propelled grenades in an ambush. The scene shows the chaos of battle as machine-gun fire blasts in all directions. The soldiers also suspect Iraqi police as having marked them for the attack. Their suspicion not only involves the police, but almost everyone.