Donahue Documentary Takes On The War

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/10-11

Donahue Documentary Takes On The War

by Richard Huff


If he were a senior in college today, he probably wouldn't pay to see his film, "Body of War."


Phil Donahue shows off 'Body of War.'The film blends footage from the debate in Congress on the war with scenes from Thomas' struggle to adapt to life without the use of most of his body. (NY Daily News)

"This is not a take-your-girl-to-the-movies kind of movie," said former talk-show king Phil Donahue. "It hurts me to say that. People want to be entertained - that's why you don't see this kind of film."

"Body of War" is a tough film that follows the story of U.S. Army soldier Tomas Young, whose spine was severed when he was shot after being in Iraq just five days.

snip//

"This is the most sanitized war of my lifetime," Donahue said. "We do not see the pain. Less than 5% of us have sacrificed for this war. What you see in this film is the drama that's taking place in thousands of homes in this country occupied by young soldiers who have come home with hideous injuries."

The film, however, focuses on just one. Young's life involves pain, multiple health problems and trouble dealing with the sort of activities most people take for granted.

"The American people do not see this," Donahue said. "This war is over to them. Less than 10% of us identified the war as a the major reason we were voting."

Sundance's decision to air the documentary on Veterans' Day is not an accident.

"It's not just about Iraq, it's about how we've treated these veterans," Michalchyshyn said. "I don't think a lot of people have conceived of the Iraq war veterans the same way as World War I or World War II veterans."

In addition to Sundance, where "Body of War" will get multiple plays, the film is out on DVD. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam wrote two songs for it, and part of the proceeds of the DVD sales at Pearl Jam's Web site go to Young.

"Before the next President swaggers in front of the camera with a big lone-star belt buckle and says, 'Bring it on,'" Donahue said, "I want them to meet the honorably discharged Army Spc. Thomas Young."

[AllieB]

1. K&R

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Sundance tomorrow night

Check your local listings.

This is such a wonderful film. Don't miss it!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Sundance tomorrow night

Check your local listings.

This is such a wonderful film. Don't miss it!!

[pacalo]

4. I saw "Body of War" on Sundance the other night & it's very eye-opening.

Tomas had frequent urinary tract infections, due to the fact that his stomach muscles wouldn't allow him to urinate as completely as his body needed to. During one scene in which Tomas & his mother were traveling in their van, she got out to help him urinate, with her having to cathetorize his penis. The camera showed the process, giving the viewers a jolting example of what Tomas has to go through daily.

Tomas & his mom also went to Crawford to support Cindy Sheehan when she wanted to talk to the boy king during his month-long vacation in August, 2005.

I won't give away the ending, but it really touched me.