Body of War

It is extremely hard to watch this film form many many reasons.

It is about the lies told by the administration that were repeated almost word for word by the Congressmen and Congresswomen as they voted to abdicate their responsibility. Even the Democrats in both house were repeating the Republican talking points. Only 23 Senators and 123 Representatives had the courage to speak with their own voices and vote no. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia was the most eloquent in defense of the right of Congress to wage war under the Constitution of the United States.

As this was play out, we were immersed in the family and travails of one soldier that managed to last only five days in Iraq before he was sent home paralyzed to suffer the rest of his life. The failure of our country to provide him with the proper care is a shame on the Bush Administration. We send them to die and suffer tremendous injury but we could care less once they return.

I learned more than I every wanted to about urinary tract infections and catheters. I was amazed that his mother could even stand to be around her husband, a dittohead that also repeated the party line and the Fox noise.

And, of course, we know now that this soldier suffers needlessly for a war that should have never been waged. That is a shame we all have to live with.

Body of War had its regional premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX where it was received by a highly sympathetic and supportive crowd. In the emerging cottage industry of Iraq War films, Body of War is one of the best. This is not about the war in Iraq as much as it is about the war at home. It follows in the ground of films like The Ground Truth and War Tapes by focusing largely on the Iraq War veterans.

This film brings the tragedy of the Iraq War into human perspective by allowing us to view it mostly through the eyes of a single disabled war vet, Tomas Young of Kansas City. Tomas was severely wounded in the first few days of the war and is paralyzed from the chest down. He has struggled to put his life back together physically and emotionally. He has also become an activist speaking out against the lies that nearly killed him.

The film intertwines Tomas's story with the footage of members of Congress voting on the War resolution in October, 2002. Its weakness is that the parts about the war vote are at times a little didactic and preachy. However, Sen. Robert Byrd clips and his cameo appearance do add a touch of class. Body of War is a powerful testament to the absurdity and dishonesty upon which the Iraq War was based. Tomas is a hero and he has suffered unspeakable pain, because his country sent him to fight an unnecessary war. He volunteered just after September 11 to go and fight the terrorists that attacked his country and was instead sent to fight to a war against a country that posed no threat to the United States. That is a tragedy both for Tomas and the nation.

Tomas is a true patriot who is now fighting to bring his fellow soldiers home - including his own brother who is currently on his third tour in Iraq. Body of War is an unflinching film that presents some of the most intimate details of Tomas's physical and emotional suffering in order to help us understand how heavy the cost of this war for vets like Tomas. And yet, while the subject matter is disturbing, the film also uses humor and music to present the story in a manner that is not bleak.

Most Americans have been isolated from the true costs of this war. We've been allowed to live our ordinary lives (as the administration cuts taxes) while a small portion of our military volunteers and their families have carried the burden for all of us. This is the type of film that Americans need to see so that we can understand the true cost of the war.

Far too often, this sort of films simply preaches to the choir. It is my fervent hope that Americans who still support the Bush administration and the Iraq war will go and see this very moving and very personal film. There are too many Tomas Youngs who have suffered too much already.

Powerful documentary that takes a detailed look at the Iraq war and its devastation by focusing on a single casualty; Thomas Young, a 25 year old enlistee from Kansas city, whose story has been interspersed with political flag waving and Bush-isms.

Thomas enlisted on Sept 13 2011 and was injured after only 1 week in Iraq, shot in the upper chest he was paralyzed and is now on a plethora of drugs to help combat his constant pain and other ongoing medical conditions.

From soldier to anti-war activist, Thomas began to question his decision to go to Iraq and is now an active speaker against the war. His story was emotional and interesting but I have to admit I fast-forwarded through most of the political hoopla and voting house members. I get what the filmmakers were trying to say but frankly it was boring. Excellent original music from Eddie Vedder. 05.13

Body of War is an immensely moving portrait of a very heroic young man, Tomas Young. Not only is he an inspiring individual, but so is the team that collaborated to help tell his story.

The robust standing ovation the film, Tomas, Ellen Spiro, Phil Donahue, and Eddie Vedder received following its world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival is indicative of how utterly powerful and courageous, like Tomas, a documentary it is.

Body of War not only exhibits the senseless brutality and arduous (if unthinkable) aftermath brought by war, but also shows us how quickly people can rush to judgment -- even when under the most critical circumstances –- and unconsciously overwrite the blatant lessons many of us hoped were learned from the past.

Hopefully Body of War can encourage present and future leaders, as well as citizens alike, to "slow down" and never rush to judgment, especially when our best and brightest -- such as Tomas –- will undoubtedly be thrown into harms way.

Watch this film.

"No more war"!

Recently, there have been a glut of documentary films and narrative fiction features released at festivals and in theatres that have been focusing on the current Iraq conflict. Many of these films are have been content to gloss over the conflict or have been intent to provide the typical shock tactics to frighten or hammer conservatives or provide further fuel for the fire, without allowing audiences with a genuine connection or emotional investment. This is not the case with the incredibly engaging and passionate BODY OF WAR. Ellen Spiro ands Phil Donahue's documentary smartly focuses on an engaging, brave and resilient protagonist who gives audiences an opportunity to connect with an actual survivor of the Iraq conflict. BODY OF WAR is a film that unlike other films currently focusing on the conflict, sets out to inspire others to stand alongside the film's hero and hopefully make a difference.