Producer's Note
​

Tattooed Under Fire is an intimate, character-driven portrait of Iraq and Afghanistan-bound and returning US soldiers as they go under the tattoo needle, openly professing their pride, sharing their secrets, and confessing their fears. The film’s narrative moves from the early expectations and excitement of 18 and 20 year-olds through cynicism and anger to a sense of a psychological aftermath that will never be erased. Each soldier’s story is an evocative, poignant, and highly personal look at the human and cultural cost of war, seen today as cautionary tales in a post war America.

Some of these themes are touched on in a subsequent documentary, Canine Soldiers: the Militarization of Love, which explores the intimate bond between Military Working Dogs and their handlers.

Thank you for visiting our site, which is meant to capture the time capsule of Tattooed Under Fire's production. Here you will find information about the film and filmmakers, as well as a full stream of the film, additional Soldiers' Stories and tattoo artist vignettes, and production photos of the wonderful team of filmmakers, artists, and soldiers that made this project possible over a decade ago.

Nancy Schiesari, Producer/Director