Deep in the Mojave Desert lies the Fort Irwin National Training Center, where soldiers about to go to the Middle East receive a unique type of preparation. In the space of 1,000 square miles are 13 simulated Iraqi villages and about 1,600 “role players,” soldiers and civilians acting out a variety of real-world situations in loosely scripted yet malleable scenarios. Full Battle Rattle focuses on one of these villages called Medina Wasl and the group of paid actors and soldiers who bring it to life. Among them is a diverse group of Iraqi Americans, including one who is undergoing deportation hearings, who all hope to prevent needless deaths of Iraqi citizens and American soldiers through their participation. Hearing them and the soldiers discuss their increasing involvement and investment with their characters illustrates the effectiveness of the process. Directors Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber, who embedded themselves in Fort Irwin for a full training rotation in order to make the film, show the many layers and ironies of the simulation—the places where what is real and what is fake become incredibly blurred—and hint at the pivotal role they hope it will play in ameliorating tensions overseas. With precision, finesse and humor, they illuminate this fascinating and surprising war game taking place within our borders. Preceded by On the Assassination of the President This winner of a 2008 Golden Gate Award for Best Bay Area Short is a darkly humorous “exposé” revealing a top-secret dossier to be viewed only in the event of the president’s death. With fast-paced editing and a fraught visual style, the short film’s chilling and outlandish premise is skillfully orchestrated and ultimately rendered plausible.

Photographed by Tony Gerber, Jesse Moss. (85 min, Mile End Films)