Sen. Kerry recommends film about Iraq War "In the Valley of Elah" in e-mail

[beachmom]

Here is the e-mail:

Hello Beachmom,

I don't write to you that often about films, except when they strike a very special chord and cry out for some special attention (think "An Inconvenient Truth," or Leo DiCaprio's "Eleventh Hour.")


A couple weeks ago, Harry Reid handed me a DVD copy of a film that's hitting theaters now -- Paul Haggis' "In the Valley of Elah."


I took it home, watched it, and I think this film crosses that same threshold -- because it's gutsy and risky and challenging to bring out a movie during a time of war that captures the tragic but very real effects of war on families, friends, and loved ones when they come home.

But you know, in this war -- where we're reminded our troops and their families have been asked to sacrifice so much while the rest of America was asked to "go shopping" -- I think that a dose of reality is needed.


In every war, the costs are paid by soldiers and their families, whether they are killed, wounded, or have to live with some of the "invisible wounds" of war that are so hard to heal.


I think it's a healthy thing for every American to watch "In the Valley of Elah" -- and think about someone you know and love, or someone you may never meet -- someone else's son or daughter, brother or sister -- as this film traces the mysterious disappearance of a soldier returning from Iraq, and delves into the searing effect of combat on the soldier, his family, and those who love him.


The former top operating officer at the Pentagon, a Marine Lieutenant General, once said of Iraq that "the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions --or bury the results."


You can't help but remember those words when you watch this movie. It's not an "anti-war" film; those words are too cheap and easy and clichéd.

No, this is a film about soldiers and families -- and a family's search for the truth, and a nation's responsibility to be there for our troops not just when they're sent into battle, but when the boots come off and they come home.


Please watch this movie -- because I think if you do, it will give other Directors some hope and some motivation to do what Paul Haggis did and make more movies which confront these issues with the unflinching honesty of "In the Valley of Elah."


To learn more about this important new film, please check out its website at:
http://wip.warnerbros.com/inthevalleyofelah.


Thank you,
John Kerry

If you want a second opinion, here is a rave review of the film in the New Yorker:

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2007/09/24/070924crci_cinema_denby?currentPage=1

I guess Tommy Lee Jones put in a first rate performance.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. It's a fabulous movie

I highly recommend it.

[beachmom]

2. So that's now 3 rave reviews. Thanks. n/t

[JI7]

3. i wonder how pro war types would view it

or even those who might not be sure about it.

[beachmom]

4. I haven't seen it yet, so I'm not sure. But it sounds like a human interest

story, so they might be at least willing to watch it.

[JI7]

5. i mean after they have watched it

i don't think a lot of pro war people actually know what is going on, and what happens to people when they go there and come back.

based on the comments from a lot of them it's all about us vs them. just something very naive and ignorant about it.

putting on a support the troops ribbon magnet on the car is enough for returning soldiers.

i do hope a lot of them watch it. our news doesn't report enough or at all on what happens to returning soldiers.