Friday, March 14, 2008

SXSW movie review and star Q/A: Body of War

The audience is actually hissing, with Snidely Whiplash nowhere to be seen.

By John P. Meyer

Planning out my schedule of events at SXSW, I tried in every way imaginable to avoid seeing Body of War - I just couldn't picture myself going into a theater of my own free will in order to hear (and see) the story of a young soldier who went off to fight the war (conflict? running gunfight? royal bloody screwup?) in Iraq and came home paralyzed from the chest down. Just didn't sound like my cup of tea.

Nevertheless, by the time Thursday (March 14) rolled around, I found the movie on my agenda. Rack it up to doing my journalistic duty or some inkling that this might prove to be a worthwhile experience - for whatever reason, I felt compelled see this one. I hope a lot of people do (when it releases theatrically), and I hope some of them are key national decision makers or those in line to become such.

The film starts out with a clip of Senator Robert Byrd quoting Hermann Göring before Congress, and it goes something like this:

"...it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

(Sound familiar?)

Tomas Young

Yes, this movie is a non-stop anti-war rant, but it adds resonance to its peacenik sentiments by personalizing them. The person effecting the personalizing is a young man named Tomas Young, who signed up with his local recruiter on Sept. 13, 2001 - two days after the Twin Towers came down - with the intent of going off to Afghanistan and kicking al-Qaeda and/or Taliban butt. The fact that he ended up shipping out to Iraq instead turned out to be an unfortunate thing for him personally, and for many thousands of other U.S. troops when considered in global perspective.

As we begin learning about Tomas' new life circumstances - starting with an uncomfortably long sequence during which he's simply attempting to put his pants on and get out of bed (and into his wheelchair) - the film intercuts to scenes on the House and Senate floor where various legislators are expounding upon the importance of either passing or voting down H.J.Res. 114 (Public Law 107–243), which would authorize the president to use the Armed Forces of the United States "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" in order to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq."

Most congresspeople of course supported the bill, and as legislator after legislator is seen to toe the administration's line (often-times repeating in their speeches the buzz-word catchphrases churned out by what must have been a team of White House blurb-writers), members of the audience in Austin's Paramount Theatre actually HISSED THE SCREEN - particularly when Texas lawmakers featured in the litany of "ayes."

Back to Tomas: five days after deploying to Iraq, he was traveling in an open truck when a sniper's bullet entered through his collarbone and proceeded downward at 7.62x39mm velocity, severing his spine. He woke up a week later in a hospital and began the arduous process of getting familiar with his new circumstances. As do we, by virtue of this deeply and uncomfortably intimate documentary.

Cathy, Tomas and Brie at an anti-war rally

Aside from the loss of the use of his legs, other early side effects of Tomas' injury included chronic pain, urination and bowel problems and the inability of his body to regulate its temperature, necessitating the wearing of cold packs inside his clothing during outings on hot days. Due to bouts of dizziness, he often has to pause in his public speaking appearances (which become more and more frequent as his prominence in the anti-war movement increases) to put his head down. He's also afflicted with erectile dysfunction - to the chagrin of his new wife, Brie.

What makes all this bearable - and what makes the movie something more than just another tragic war tale - is the fact that Tomas Young is a well-spoken, charismatic and genuinely funny guy who just happens to be stuck in a wheelchair. When he appears as the headliner at a church rally or speaks to a group of veterans against the war, he commands the stage with a self-deprecating confidence that belies any physical affliction.

The film is also very much the story of Tomas' family and caregivers, primarily Brie and his mom, Cathy, whose own lives are traumatized as well. Cathy is married to a man (Tomas' stepdad) who fully supports the war and President Bush; she finds herself in the nightmarish position of having to stand by while a second son, Nathan, deploys to the Iraqi conflict.

Nathan Young, Tomas' brother, bids goodbye to mom, Cathy

The narrative is laced with spirited songs of protest both traditional and new, with much of the new material contributed by Eddie Vedder. An album of music from the film is already out there, if you're so inclined.

The film ends with Tomas meeting Senator Byrd in his Senate office. The war's most vocal legislative opponent appears palsied but clear-eyed as he shows Tomas the placard bearing the names of the 23 Senators who voted in opposition to the bill granting the president the power to send troops to Iraq. (77 Senators voted for passage.) Byrd refers to his fellow "nay"-sayers as "the immortal 23."

Parts of this movie made me want to turn away; other parts made me want to never turn away again.

TYPICAL BUZZWORD CATCHPHRASE QUOTED DURING CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS ON H.J. RES. 114: "It'll be too late for us to act if the smoking gun turns out to be a mushroom cloud."

MOST HAUNTING MOMENT: "Bye, daddy!" - youngster's cheery call to his departing soldier father, as he embarks to Iraq - causing Cathy (whose son Nathan is shipping out also) to choke up

IRAQ OR A HARD PLACE: "You can tell the truth and be branded as a traitor, or internalize and self-destruct." - another disabled vet to Tomas, at an anti-war rally

BYRDS OF A FEATHER: "I see we've both got some mobility issues." - Tomas to the aging Senator Byrd, as they make their slow progress down a congressional hallway

********

Nothing in the film could have been as moving as having the house lights come up to find Tomas Young wheeling himself out onto center stage to an uproarious standing O. If anyone remained dry-eyed by this point, acute tear-duct blockage must have been to blame.

Tomas, looking fitter than when he appeared in the film (it's been a couple of years since the footage was shot), fielded questions from the audience and snapped out one-liners like a veteran standup comic.

But he also has a serious side (go figure), reflected by his answer to a query about his politics, before and after his brief stint in Iraq. He said he's always considered himself "left of center," but never thought about not serving in the military because "to defend the country does not hinge on ideology."

In answer to a question regarding what he thinks ought to be done to resolve the Iraq situation, he (surprisingly?) does not advocate an immediate full withdrawal of troops, but thinks a small force should be maintained to administer the cordoning of the country into three sections: one for each of the Sunni, Shia and Kurdish populations.

Responding to the guy who wanted to know what he'd say to George W. Bush if he had a chance to meet him personally, Tomas said he'd have two questions for the president: 1) where's my better wheelchair?; and 2) where's the stem cell research (which could lead to restoring the functionality of paralysis victims)?

In response to a question regarding the state of his current health, he says it's improving, and that the e.d. problem has gone away. Spirited clapping issues from the audience, to which Tomas responds: "Thank you for applauding my ability to..."

This was followed by an appearance onstage of Cathy, Tomas' mom, who prefaced her Q/A by stating: "I'll be standing out front getting the names of all the girls who clapped when he mentioned his new-found abilities." To which Tomas adds, "... and I'll be choosing the ones she doesn't like." (I should note at this juncture that Brie and Tomas are separated.)

The appearance of co-directors Phil Donahue and UT Austin Professor Ellen Spiro on stage at this point was by contrast anticlimactic, though they did inform us that the film will be released nationwide through Landmark Theaters and actually begins a run here in Austin at the Dobie starting today (Friday, March 14).

Tomas' parting remark: "Like the airline says, I know here at SXSW you have many choices for entertainment. Thank you for choosing ours."

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