Netflix’s new documentary “In Waves and War,” released on Nov. 3, follows three Navy SEALS who are grappling with post-combat trauma while trying to readjust to civilian life. The documentary explores the validity of unorthodox courses of care for these soldiers — specifically psychedelic-assisted treatment.
Marcus Capone, a highly decorated Navy SEAL, returned home from Afghanistan looking to rejoin civilian life with his wife. However, years of combat left Capone with treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and severe depression. Capone’s wife, Amber, found hope in a potential treatment for Capone — a groundbreaking therapy that combines two powerful psychedelics unapproved for use in the United States.
Capone’s miraculous recovery inspired the couple to embark on a new mission: providing access to this treatment to veterans across the U.S.
Told through a series of pre-treatment and post-treatment interviews, animation and research at Stanford’s Brain Simulation Lab, “In Waves and War” addresses the prevalent issue of untreated post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans across the United States.
The documentary offers rare insight into the making of a Navy SEAL. Many SEALs begin their pursuit at a very young age, usually during their teen years. Now looking back, these veterans recognize how little they knew about what was in store and how naive they were at the time. The documentary includes footage depicting Navy SEALs running alongside motor vehicles, swimming and doing push-ups for hours on end. It is a very physically demanding role, but the mental toll it takes on those involved is less portrayed in contemporary media.
The multimedia format of the documentary — with its animation sequences, interviews and video footage — created a layered narrative that made the story engaging, interesting and easy to follow. The captivating animation sequences added a dimension of nuance and texture to the documentary that is uncharacteristic of the genre, making “In Waves and War” uniquely narrative-driven. Hopefully, this documentary will propel an expansion of the use of narrative storytelling techniques, like animation, in documentaries.
Directed by Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen — the team that directed and produced the Oscar-nominated short film “Lead Me Home” — and produced by Jessica Anthony, “In Waves and War” was created by a team of seasoned documentarians. With the editing style of Emmy-nominated film editor Don Bernier, the documentary achieves a rare stylistic balance between conveying information and expressing emotion through storytelling.
“In Waves and War” is a raw, emotional depiction of the very real struggles millions of veterans face today. The documentary draws audiences in and exposes them to the traumatizing and terrifying experiences that veterans have had to live through while also educating them on the startling issue of untreated mental disorders in veterans across the country.
Rating: 4/5