The Recruiter[1](2008) is a cinéma-vérité, feature-length documentary that travels to the Louisiana coast to present Sergeant First Class Clay Usie[2], one of the most successful Army recruiters working in America. Part surrogate father and part motivational coach, Sgt. Usie offers a very different vision of the army than is usually portrayed. The film interweaves the dedication and determination of this consummate professional, with the stories of Lauren, Matt, Chris, and Bobby, four teenagers whom Sgt. Usie actively recruits. Shot over a 9-month period, the film follows these four possible conscripts as they complete their last semesters of high school and weigh their options. After their graduation, the film travels with them to basic training, where they transition from students to soldiers. After seeing the day-to-day lives and realistic possibilities of these young people, whatever preconceptions you may have of their best options will be put to the test.

The film was directed by Edet Belzberg, an Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker. The Recruiter was aired on HBO as part of their Documentary series.

Curriculum For Classrooms[edit]

The filmmakers took "The Recruiter" to high schools around the country, from Memphis to the Bronx, as part of an educational initiative supported by The Fledgling Fund. The curriculum provides teachers with tools to take students beyond their own perspectives on war, and into the lives of teenagers choosing to enlist in the United States Army for varied and complex reasons

Prizes & Awards[edit]

In 2008, "The Recruiter" was nominated for the 24th annual Sundance Film Festival.

In 2009, “The Recruiter” was honored to receive the [[Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award|Alfred I. DuPont Award] for excellence in distinguished public service from The Journalism School at Columbia University. The award goes to filmmakers who capture history as it happens and aims to promote social awareness.

References[edit]

”The Recruiter”, the Film. Home : Propeller Films. Web. 12 Jan. 2011.

"The Recruiter" (2008) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 13 Jan. 2011.

"The Recruiter": Home." HBO. Web. 13 Jan. 2011.