Body of War (2007)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Directors:

Phil Donahue
Ellen Spiro

Writers:

Phil Donahue (writer)
Ellen Spiro (writer)

Genre:

Documentary | War

Plot:

The story of an injured American veteran returning home from the war Iraq is set against the backdrop of a critical indictment of the government's handling of the U.S.-led invasion.

Plot Keywords:

Activist | Anti War | Soldier | Iraq War | Political Protest

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Byrd	...	Himself
Brad Friedman	...	Himself
Cathy Smith	...	Herself
Nathan Young	...	Himself
Tomas Young	...	Himself

Directed by
Phil Donahue
Ellen Spiro

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Phil Donahue		writer
Ellen Spiro		writer

Produced by
Joaquin Gonzalo Avellán	....	field producer
Karen Bernstein	....	co-producer
Jill DeVincens	....	associate producer
Phil Donahue	....	executive producer
Phil Donahue	....	producer
Ellen Spiro	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Layton		(original music)

Cinematography by
Ellen Spiro

Film Editing by
Bernadine Colish

Sound Department
Patrick Donahue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin McKinney	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Yohance Brown	....	colorist

Editorial Department
Phillip Schopper	....	additional editor

Music Department
Jeanne Fox	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Greg Hahn	....	archival footage assistance
Dee Dee Halleck	....	project consultant
Gene Tsenter	....	archival footage assistance

Thanks
Rana Joy Glickman	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Mobilus Media
• Phil Donahue Enterprises

Distributors

• Film Sales Company, The (2008) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

Canada:87 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:Unrated

Company:

Mobilus Media

Soundtrack:

Long Nights

Unconvincing

This was a movie by war critics for war critics. I say unconvincing because if I were for the war, the majority of this movie would not persuade me in the other direction.

Cons: hardly any convincing arguments against the war, timing makes it seem like a "vote Democrat this election" film, sometimes appears as though the protagonist was a tool of the hawks and now is a tool of the doves (rather than his own person).

Pros: daily life of a wounded veteran is shown, reminders of the true cost of the war, reminder of the Congressional record and arguments made for/against, the one solid argument is made well by Senator Byrd.