Phil Donahue-Backed Anti-War Film Debuts At Toronto Film Fest

[babylonsister]

Paralyzed man soldiers on in anti-war documentary
Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:39 PM EDT161


TORONTO (Reuters) - Sign up for the army, but know you could come home in a wheelchair. That was the hard lesson for Iraq war veteran Tomas Young, whose experience is detailed in new film "Body of War."

Young, then 22, enlisted in the U.S. Army two days after the World Trade Center collapsed in 2001, intending to go to Afghanistan and defend his country by rooting out Al Qaeda.

Instead, the Kansas City soldier arrived in Iraq in 2004. He was heading home within a week, paralyzed from his chest down after a gunshot wound. He retains the use of his arms.

"I just want kids to realize that at this point, voluntary enlistment in the military is something you could wait until after we get a new president to do," Young told Reuters in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival after the film held its world premiere to a standing ovation on an appropriate September 11.

"Body of War" is a film about the Iraq war, but without footage of explosions and gun battles. It tells what happens to the many wounded veterans who return home with injuries they will nurse for life.

"If there was ever a need to see the pain, don't sanitize this war. If you're going to get on your high horse and say 'bring it on', before you do, I want you to meet Tomas Young," said talk show host Phil Donahue, who directed the film with Ellen Spiro.

more...

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2007-09-13T163911Z_01_N12263412_RTRIDST_0_ENTERTAINMENT-TORONTO-BODYOFWAR-COL.XML

[Tesla]

1. I love Phil Donahue

He needs to get back out here more often. We need his voice!!

[babylonsister]

2. This could be an important way for his to show his anti-war chops. I

hope so.

[Karenina]

3. Me too!

K&R!