October 26, 2009

As mentioned on the title page, The Good Soldier is playing at Proctors on November 11, 2009 and this is an exceptionally powerful and important movie. After seeing it, I wrote the following email, which I sent out to a few folks. It isn't the best writing but it was what I was feeling. Truly I hope you will come and see this movie and invite others. Also continue reading below. Thanks.

Hi Everyone,

I just finished a screening of "The Good Soldier". It is exceptionally well done, left me feeling raw and beat up mentally, honestly felt like crying and I did when I was alone. So the movie is very intense, more evocative then I could possibly imagine, partially because I know Michael and Jimmy and anyone who knew David Cline certainly misses him. And the other men were equally strong and evocative too. Understand why Bill Moyer's is getting behind this film and it is a very long 79 minutes as the horror and brutality of war and its' effect on us as human beings, the degradation of our psyches/souls/humanity and the almost impossible mission of finding reconstruction and redemption for those who have had the worst of it comes home so powerfully in what is both fairly and understated and what is so tenderly candid and raw in the best and worst of our collective experience. Feeling pretty blown away at the moment.

It is about as truthful a movie as I have seen about the war experience without any false steps. And in this truthfulness particularly when talking about enjoying the kill comes revulsion and dreadfulness and the kind of loathing which might make me want to wash or crawl out of my skin. It certainly made me think I will have the national suicide hot line number available in case anyone close to the edge, feels or remembers to much. It is brilliant work and so very sad. I am sure there is some beauty there too and will remember it as things settle a bit. It is a very important movie.

Paz, John

PS More about the Veterans Panel soon.