The Good Soldier

In this sober but deeply moving talkfest, four veterans from different wars (WWII through Iraq) open up about the harrowing inhumanity of armed conflict. Interspersed with battlefield footage and golden-oldies radio transmissions, the varied and distinct testimonials of these men display a reflective vulnerability that’s rare to see: Emotions range from resignation to pride, gratitude to exhausted anger. An explicitly antiwar conclusion unwisely makes the grim focus feel like a bias, but the power of the interviews makes one wish for more stories, not fewer.