Armadillo is a Danish documentary film directed by Janus Metz Pedersen. It follows a group of Danish soldiers, mostly in their early twenties, who are sent to Afghanistan as part of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission. The film focuses on the experiences of two soldiers in particular, Mads and Daniel, who are both new to combat.
The film is shot on location in Helmand province, where the Danish troops are stationed at Camp Armadillo, a small military outpost near the front lines of the conflict. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the soldiers and their daily routines, both in camp and on patrol.
The film shows the soldiers engaging in combat operations against the Taliban, including firefights, roadside bomb attacks, and house-to-house searches. It also depicts the soldiers' daily life in camp, including their downtime activities such as drinking, playing video games, and watching movies.
Throughout the film, the soldiers become increasingly disillusioned with the mission and the Afghan people, as they witness corruption, incompetence, and violence on all sides. They begin to question their own role in the conflict and the larger geopolitical forces at play.
The film is notable for its gritty, realistic portrayal of the war in Afghanistan, as well as its unflinching examination of the psychological toll it takes on the soldiers who fight there. It won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 and was widely acclaimed as a groundbreaking work of documentary filmmaking.