Sebastian Junger’s ‘Restrepo’ set for free Oct. 30 screening, with guest Q&A

A free screening of Restrepo, the war documentary Rolling Stone praised as “explosive, deeply moving and impossible to shake,” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m. in Beckman Hall, Room 404. A discussion and Q&A with Army Ranger Aron Hijar, a soldier featured in the film, and Justin Cham, a Marine Corps combat veteran and L.A. County deputy sheriff, will follow the screening.

The screening is hosted by the Institute for Military Personnel, Veterans, Human Rights and International Law and the AMVETS Legal Clinic at Chapman University.

Restrepo is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost called Restrepo, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military.

It is an entirely experiential film: The cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. Restrepo director Sebastian Junger is also the best-selling author of The Perfect Storm and War.

Appetizers and refreshments will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the screening will follow promptly at 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested and may be made by calling 714-628-2692.