Islam on My Dog Tags is an eye-opening documentary about a veteran of the Iraq War. His name is Zero Aikil-Bey, and he proves to be a remarkably candid and engaging interview subject as he discusses his experiences as a Muslim in the Armed Forces.

When Zero got to basic training, he discovered that soldiers have to give their religious preference before receiving their dog tags. Hence the title. What's surprising is that Zero wasn't harassed by the other recruits because of his religious affiliation. Of course, he received some ribbing from his drill instructors, but if you've been in the service (or seen Full Metal Jacket) you know that those guys rib everybody.

Zero is also a gifted graffiti artist, and some of his artwork is featured in the film, including some of the work he did on the streets of Iraq. The documentary is a fluid mixture of illustrations, footage taken in Iraq and the on-camera interview the filmmakers did with Zero. I would have liked to have seen even more of the Iraq footage, which shows (all too fleetingly) house raids Zero went on as well as images of everyday Iraqis. Also, the title cards at the beginning are difficult to read, but these are minor quibbles.

Zero doesn't seem embittered when recalling his wartime experiences, recognizing that while Iraq was a place of death and destruction, it was also a place of beauty. It's heartening to see a soldier emerge from war with his soul intact.