Gunner Palace Opens April 15th in Canada

Michael Tucker, who directed the film along with his wife Petra  Epperlein, spent two one-month stints (September 2003 and February 2004) unofficially embedded with 400 members of the 2/3 Field  Artillery (a.k.a. "The Gunners").  The unit’s headquarters – nicknamed  "Gunner Palace" – is located in the most volatile area of Baghdad and the last place Saddam Hussein was seen alive before his subsequent capture.

In June 2003, US President George W. Bush declared the end of  "major combat" in Iraq.  Months later, soldiers wryly refer to their situation as "minor combat." By day, they patrol the streets, often to face an indifferent population, sometimes to be pelted with rocks.  By night, they carry out raids on suspected terrorists.  They endure mortar attacks, snipers and  dreaded IEDs (improvised explosive devices) that can be hidden in garbage, a bag, anywhere.  A day when nothing happens is a good day.

Most of the soldiers are young, male, barely out of high school and mainly from small towns – a generation weaned on pop culture.  Indeed, the film conjures thoughts of the reality show "Cops" (i.e. as soldiers head out in their Humvees) or reruns of M*A*S*H (as they golf on Uday’s putting green).  When they dance around the palace pool, it’s to the ’60s  hit "My Girl."  Some soldiers vent their thoughts with freestyle rap, and another plays the electric guitar, providing a self-generated soundtrack.

But here’s the reality.  During the film’s production, the unit – which was featured on Time magazine’ s 2003 Christmas cover to represent the American soldier as "Person of the Year" – suffered eight fatalities. The film is produced, directed and edited by Michael Tucker, whose  father served in Vietnam, and Petra Epperlein, with photography by Tucker.

Gunner Palace is being presented in Canada by Mongrel Media and The Documentary Channel.