"Every time they knock on a door, it hits their chest like a hammer."#clips #highlights

The Messenger (2009) is a drama focusing on war trauma and human warmth, released in 2009. Directed by Oren Moverman and starring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, it takes the work of the U.S. Army "Casualty Notification Team" as the entry point to show the hidden impact of war on ordinary people. In the story, Will, a soldier discharged from the Iraq War due to injury, is assigned to the Casualty Notification Team, partnering with the experienced Tony to deliver the sad news to the families of fallen soldiers. This job of "delivering death" is full of heaviness and pain: they must follow strict procedures, but often face the families' collapse, anger and doubts. Will himself has not escaped the shadow of war, with anxiety caused by PTSD and guilt towards his former lover haunting him all the time; while under Tony's seemingly indifferent appearance, there is also powerlessness towards this job and respect for life. The film does not depict war scenes, but through details in each notification task - the trembling hands of family members, silent hugs, and drinking alone at night, it delicately portrays the characters' psychological struggles, while also capturing the glimmers of humanity, such as Will's empathy and protection for a widow who lost her husband. Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson restore the characters' vulnerability and tenacity with restrained yet highly tense performances. With a realistic narrative style, the film triggers the audience's thinking about the cost of war and the value of life, becoming an excellent work with both depth and warmth.