"Body of War"
Body of War is the film that played in Albuquerque's Guild Theater over Memorial Day weekend, and I saw it on Tuesday evening when Phil Donahue, the film's co-director and producer was at the theater to talk about it after the showing. The 6:30pm show was sold out, and we had to wait in line for a half hour until the previous show audience was cleared out and the doors were opened to us. Those who hadn't come early to buy advance tickets got in line on the other side of the sidewalk to buy tickets to the 9pm show, the last one for this engagement. Phil Donahue was held over for that group as well, although the 6:30 show was advertised as his only appearance. This was a very successful event for the small independent theater which often runs in the red.
I want to urge everyone to see the movie when it is available to you. It will eventually be available from Netflix, but DVDs are not yet available. There is a website. Here is the synopsis of the film from that source:
There is also a film trailer and a list of theaters across the country where it is scheduled to be shown. Efforts are being made for it to be shown on college campuses as well.
Excerpts of Body of War were shown on Bill Moyers' Journal on March 21, but somehow I missed it. I may have been distracted by getting ready to leave on my trip to Venezuela the following Monday. It is available online (click here) if you want to see the interview with Donahue and his co-director, cinematographer Ellen Spiro.
Donohue announced on Tuesday that Tomas, after complaining of numbness in his arm, and receiving another pill from the VA, had slipped into a coma. He is now slightly improved, responding to blinks and hand pressure, and his mother is optimistic. There is also a possibility of a suit against the VA.
I want to urge everyone to see the movie when it is available to you. It will eventually be available from Netflix, but DVDs are not yet available. There is a website. Here is the synopsis of the film from that source:
Body of War is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the true face of war today. Meet Tomas Young, 25 years old, paralyzed from a bullet to his spine - wounded after serving in Iraq for less than a week.
Body of War is Tomas' coming home story as he evolves into a new person, coming to terms with his disability and finding his own unique and passionate voice against the war. The film is produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro, and features two original songs by Eddie Vedder. Body of War is a naked and honest portrayal of what it's like inside the body, heart and soul of this extraordinary and heroic young man.
Body of War unfolds on two parallel tracks. On the one hand, we see Tomas evolving into a powerful voice against the war as he struggles to deal with the complexities of a paralyzed body. And on the other, we see the historic debate unfolding in the Congress about going to war in Iraq.
The film opens as Tomas and his fiance Brie prepare for their wedding. However, because of his disability, we see how the simple everyday activities for Tomas are involved and challenging. War is personal and the film takes us into the skin and bones of what it means to have no control over basic bodily functions. In many remarkable scenes, we directly experience how vulnerable and open Tomas is as he interacts with his wife, family, and friends.
There is also a film trailer and a list of theaters across the country where it is scheduled to be shown. Efforts are being made for it to be shown on college campuses as well.
Excerpts of Body of War were shown on Bill Moyers' Journal on March 21, but somehow I missed it. I may have been distracted by getting ready to leave on my trip to Venezuela the following Monday. It is available online (click here) if you want to see the interview with Donahue and his co-director, cinematographer Ellen Spiro.
Donohue announced on Tuesday that Tomas, after complaining of numbness in his arm, and receiving another pill from the VA, had slipped into a coma. He is now slightly improved, responding to blinks and hand pressure, and his mother is optimistic. There is also a possibility of a suit against the VA.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home