Body of War - a short review
Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro have created “Body of War,” one of the best films so far on the effects of the “War on Terror” on our brave soldiers. This focused 87 minute look at the life of one GI, Thomas Young, truly shows the pain that the tens of thousands of wounded military are living, both physically, mentally, and spiritually. Hopefully it will win an Oscar.
The two main strands of the film compare the votes, and challanges to the votes, of the US Congress in support of the War on Terror. Our WV Senator Byrd is the absolute hero of the film, along with Young of course, two parallel stories of patriots who dare to stand up. During the last scene, they meet and Byrd reads the names of the 22 other Senators who stood with him, speaking of each one of the senators, calling them “the Immortals.” At least one viewer told me that he shed a tear watching Byrd and Young walking down the halls of Congress together, admitting that they both don’t know which way their lives will turn.
I really enjoyed seeing, but maybe for the last time, all of the B.S. lies from Bush, his Administration, and Congressional people including many Democratics about Hussein, etc. I enjoyed much more seeing the marches against the war including interviews with the Gold Star mothers thanking Young,watch Young’s own mother and wife helping him every minute as he fights his tormented body to give speeches, talk on “Sixty Minutes,” just endure. Young’s conversation with Bobby Muller, who has lived in a wheelchair for 35 years, since the Viet Nam War, was truly the most refreshing, honest such conversation I think I have ever seen on film.
Near the end of the film Young’s marriage starts to dissolve, and he is shown taking down his wedding pictures, and his Purple Heart, etc, showing that he is truly ready to face the facts of his life without using those supports. I certainly hope that he makes it, and given the support of his mother, step-father, and other Iraqi Veterans Against the War, he should be able to.
Senator Byrd says that casting his vote against the War on Terror was the most important vote of his record-setting Senate career. This was his finest hour. Hopefully at West Virginians, especially ones who have seen their children into the War on Terror, will have a chance to watch and discuss this excellent documentary.
The Lascaux Micro-Theater in Buckhannon is showing the film on Fridays in June. Otherwise, you will have to look to the Warner in Morgantown and other alt movie houses around the state to see if they will show this great film. Eventually I am sure it will be sold on DVD.
