An adventure worth taking with Phil Donahue (click here).
I passed up "Kenny" to stand in a waiting line for this film. It was worth every minute of waiting.
I did not anticipate the strong anti-war content. I thought this would be a film that would simply honor 'the veteran,' but it also provided opposition to the Iraq invasion that was 'new' and completely welcome.
Body of War took great pains to allow the personality of its subject to dominate the content of the film. We all are aware of Iraq War Veterans Against the War that sometimes is viewed by a greater society as a 'grudge match' with the priorities of war by the current administration. This film removes any doubt regarding the 'disposable' nature assigned by The Bush/Cheney Executive Branch of our miiltary personnel.
Phil took the reality of his subject to a level any organized and commercial media service never broached, not even The Washington Post in its criticism of Walter Reed.
Our soldiers are being given 'The Bums' Rush' when it comes to their war injuries and any potential for complete recovery or ability to live a quasi-normal life.
The film made me wonder if The Geneva Conventions covered the abuse of a government of its veterans, because there are 'human rights' violations of the American military personnel as well as their recruiting services that became an underlying reality of this film. The expectations of this veteran for his purpose in enlisting and the resultant life 'he was left' are nothing short of 'merchanising' war for palatability with no promise by the USA military to live up to its' commercialization of war.
The physical condition of this generation of Disabled Vet is grossly different with poorer prognosis than I ever expected going into this film. Phil provided an opportunity for this veteran to meet one of a previous war. The 'time' given in recovery to past generations of Disabled Vets was vastly more comprehensive, both in 'physical content and the prioriites of mental health.' Tomas, the subject of the film, literally loses his very promising marriage to ghosts of masculine failure. Those quality of life issues were NOT a problem to a role model Tomas visited which clearly defined an America 'out of sync' with its loyality to their soldiers.
Phil Donahue's commitment to his subject didn't stop with Tomas' message regarding the war, it portrayed in unspoken images the reality of a man neglected by his country. It made me wonder how much of an Iraq War Disabled Veteran's life was for the purpose of medical research rather than support for body and life style changes, because their mental health has been completely discarded as a priority.
Phil's dedication to his subject resulted in a friendship that continues today. He informed the audience to the continually deteriorating physical condition of Tomas which was undoubtedly faciliated by his aloneness in life.
Senator Byrd appears in the film as a friend to Tomas. Together they mark the legislators that voted 'NO' to Iraq's illegal invasion. Senator Byrd characterizes the nay sayers as "The Immortal 23." And indeed, the reality to that fact is overwhelming.
