Fort Eustis premieres documentary film "Brothers at War"

FORT EUSTIS, VA (April 2, 2009) -- First-time film director and producer Jake Rademacher braved a hot, arid environment to follow his brother, Isaac - a captain with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division - to the Iraq war to understand the war and the motivation that drives Isaac and younger brother, Joe a sergeant and sniper also serving with the 82nd, to serve and defend. What Rademacher brings home is not only a clearer comprehension of the conflict and his brothers, but also an award-winning documentary, "Brothers at War."

Shadowing Isaac, his Soldiers and three other Army and Marine Corps units on surveillance missions, Rademacher spends time with the troops, living under the same conditions and seeing the war not just through the lens of his camera, but through the hearts and minds of the men he embeds himself with.

In a March interview with Chicago Tribune reporter Robert K. Elder, Rademacher said he believes "Brothers" may help others better understand and support America's fighting troops.

"I think that the film will help our society appreciate these guys and help people relate to these guys better when they come home," he said. "It's a huge benefit to them and to us."

Fort Eustis Soldiers and families had the chance to see the finished product at the film's premiere March 26 at Jacobs Theater.

Capt. Shane Lucker, a three-time Iraq War veteran and current company commander of E Company, 71st Transportation Battalion, attended the showing with his Soldiers.

Lucker echoes Rademacher's opinion of the film, stating the documentary brings the reality of war home to the American people and Soldiers and the film provides a clearer picture of what the nation's fighting men and women are doing there and why.

"I think it gives the best on-the-ground perspective. It was an actual story," Lucker said.

Lucker stated the movie - unlike a Hollywood production - goes beyond the Soldier in uniform, and looks at and reveals the person underneath.

"It was real. The Soldiers talked about their families; stuff everyday Soldiers deployed sit around and discuss when they're away from home and being in that situation," he said.

"My opinion is the media just look at the Soldier in uniform. They don't know everything that's built into that Soldier through family, through life experiences. They just look at the Soldier," Lucker added.

"Brothers at War" was named GI Film Festival's Best Documentary Feature in 2008 and Grand Jury Prize winner at the Solstice Film Festival in Minneapolis.