HBO | 2010 | 68 mins. | TV-14
As they should, relatives, friends, and supporters are often seen gathering at airports, parades and other celebrations to honor the sacrifices of our military veterans. However, for years many of those veterans have felt at a loss once those celebrations are over, and life returns to ‘normal. ’Executive produced by James Gandolfini, Wartorn 1861 – 2010 provides an unflinching look at what life is like for some of these men and women in their return to civilian life. Focusing on the stories of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), directors Jon Alpert and Ellen Goosenberg Kent have created a heartbreaking but important film.
Although the term PTSD wasn’t officially adopted until 1980, symptoms of the illness have been documented since the 1800’s. In the documentary, we are read the letters of a young Pennsylvanian named Angelo Crapsey who shot himself after a harrowing three years serving on the front lines of the Civil War. Just 18 when he left home, his initial letters are those of an eager soldier, as time passes, you can hear (and almost feel) it, as he begins to lose touch with reality. Footage from a 1944 Army film titled Psychiatric Procedures in the Combat Area, shows nervous, teary soldiers telling stone-faced officials that they “can’t stand seeing people killed.”
Elderly World War II veterans, long off the battlefield, make the case that PTSD never goes away. These men still have nightmares and are unable to forget. One has three sons who haven’t talked to him in twenty-five years, because he wasn’t able to discuss his experiences and emotions.. Another has a grandson currently serving in Iraq. He says he doesn’t want to scare him, but he knows his grandson won’t come back the same person he was before he left home.
The inability to discuss the horrors of combat is a recurring theme throughout Wartorn. While things are slowly changing, many of the top brass still follow the lead of General Patton, who once slapped a soldier who refused to go back to the front. In 2005, Jason Scheuerman was told by military personnel to “man up” after a 10-minute evaluation where he expressed suicidal feelings. He shot himself the same day. Hearing this story from his father, the patriarch of a large military family, is one of Wartorn‘s many heart wrenching scenes.
James Gandolfini appears sporadically to conduct interviews with soldiers past and present, as well as military officials who are trying to change the perception of PTSD. It’s an uphill battle and there’s a lot of work to be done. However, after seeing the private struggles of the people profiled in this documentary, it’s clear this is work that has to be done.
Wartorn is a real downer. There’s no magical moment or solutions offered. Long after we turn off our DVD players, these soldiers are still in pain. The mother of a soldier who committed suicide says that the Army trained her son to kill but “forgot to un-train him.” Perhaps the first step in that process is acknowledging their pain. If Wartorn does nothing else, it gives the soldiers a chance to beard; now it’s our turn to listen.
Wartorn comes to DVD in an aspect ratio of 16:9. Newer footsge looks very good. There are several stock photos and pieces of stock video that some may not find up to usual standards, though it is acceptable. Regardless, I image most viewers will be so riveted by the stories told, the stock footage won’t matter.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 does the job for this dialogue heavy documentary. The interviews are the draw here, and they all come across clearly.
The disc includes a panel discussion on PTSD that was held after the film’s premiere at the Pentagon. The panel was moderated by the Honorable Doug Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and the Honorable Tammy Duckworth, Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs. Panelists included General Peter W. Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army; Dr. Kathleen M. Chard, VA CPT Implementation Director, Director, PTSD and Anxiety Disorder Division, Cincinnati VA Medal Center, and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati; Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Gregory E. Harbin, Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; Mr. Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha, Medal of Honor Recipient, Veteran of the Vietnam War; and Mr. Gregory T. Goldstein, M.P.H., Headquarters Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control Program Manager. Lasting about thirty minutes, some share their experiences with PTSD, while others discuss what we must do to help suffering military personnel.
