The documentary focuses on a section of California’s Mohave Desert where the American army has built a billion dollar mock-up of an Iraqi village called Medina Wasl. There Iraqi emigrants play the role of insurgents as American soldiers attempt to quell a fake civil war. Gerber and Moss follow the participants throughout the conflict, providing action scenes shot in HD, while documenting both the comedy and intense emotion felt by those participating in the simulation.

The film has been received well by critics who have called it, “some of the greatest and most surreal comedy” [James Christopher for the London Times] and “a work of direct cinema [Stuart Klawans of The Nation].” This SXSW Film Festival winner is sure to intrigue audiences by documenting a new spin on the conflict in Iraq.

Full Battle Rattle opens Wednesday, July 9th at Film Forum.