MovieChat Forums > In the Valley of Elah (2007) Discussion > Clothes not burnt?

Clothes not burnt?

posted 8 years ago by deadkennedy776
4 replies | jump to latest

In one of the recovered cell phone videos from Iraq, Mike pans across some charred bodies in un-burnt clothing and remarks to his father that the clothes are untouched. What is the significance of that?

My first thought was that Mike had come across some conspiracy in which soldiers were torturing Iraqis to death (with fire) and then planting them at the site of munition strikes to appear like war casualties; I wrongly thought this was what led to his death.

Can anyone shed light on this?

[–] micirisi 8 years ago

That building was bombed and soon afterward the soldiers entered. I don't believe it would be unusual for there to be dead bodies with flash burns to their skin and clothes mostly intact. I think Mike was merely commenting on how it all appeared strange. The essence of the scene was Mike placing the smiley face flame sticker on the dead girl's head as a "I was here" sign, another revelation of his flawed character.

Torturing Iraqis to death with fire then dressing them in unburned clothes then bombing them seems a bit too much trouble.

He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.

[–] the_la_baker 8 years ago

I am not sure what the significance is, but it reminded me of this documentary;
"Star Wars in Iraq"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfr-1fJMTbo

[–] Blisty 7 years ago

I have no idea what the point of that was.

High explosives rip clothes right off of people, and usually rip their bodies apart as well. They don't broil their bodies and leave their clothing intact.

[–] Neuronhead 7 years ago

Biological weapon?

I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe