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The first of the films in the special showing this year of the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts is the best of the lot and my pick to win the Oscar. It's a film from HBO Pictures called "Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1". Depressing...you betcha! But unlike most of the other films, this one promotes change and awareness-- which are why I traditionally love documentary shorts. In addition, while this one will probably make you shed a few tears, it IS rather optimistic in that none of the folks whose stories you hear were successful in killing themselves. The story is set at a nationwide suicide hotline for American active duty and veteran soldiers. This nationwide hotline is in Canandaigua, New York and it focuses on the workers and supervisors at this crisis line. Throughout the film, you follow various workers as they take phone calls from despondent soldiers or their families. You do not hear the callers--just the workers and it is very, very tense but satisfying to hear them saving lives. The film really is terrific and draws needed attention to the very serious problem of emotionally wounded soldiers. Well made in every way.

UPDATE: Yippee! Rarely does the film I think SHOULD win actually wins the Oscar. Tonight this film took home the Best Documentary Short and definitely deserved it.