The Corporal's Diary

This deeply personal video diary consists of footage shot by 22-year-old U.S. soldier Jonathan Santos during his 37-day stint in Iraq. Jonathan lost his life on the 38th day, but in the interim used his video camera to provide a firsthand, compelling and surprisingly colorful account of one soldier's experiences in the Middle East - from the alcohol "home-brewed" by U.S. soldiers, to the use of high explosives. Interwoven through it all are Santos's heartbreaking musings on the life he never had an opportunity to witness or experience. Santos's compatriot, Matthew, narrowly escaped death himself and brought Jonathan's footage back to the U.S. In the final version, he intercuts the footage by Santos with the young man's written recollections, read on the soundtrack.