Watch Body of War

Body of War is a documentary film from 2007 that follows the life of a paralyzed veteran of the Iraq War, Tomas Young. The film was directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro and features interviews with Tomas, his family, and other veterans of the war. The movie opens with a powerful montage of news footage from the early days of the Iraq War, including President George W. Bush's famous "Mission Accomplished" speech. We then meet Tomas Young, a 25-year-old from Kansas City who enlisted in the Army just days after September 11. Tomas is shown in various stages of his rehabilitation, including being lifted from his wheelchair to his bed and attempting to practice walking with a device designed to help paralyzed individuals move.

The film then moves backward in time to show Tomas's life before the war. We learn that he grew up in a conservative household, but was politically progressive and listened to punk rock music. He dreamed of becoming a writer and spent much of his free time reading and writing.

In 2004, Tomas was deployed to Iraq as part of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. Just five days after arriving, he was shot in the spine while on patrol. The film shows graphic images of Tomas receiving medical treatment and being airlifted out of Iraq.

The rest of the film focuses on Tomas's struggle to adapt to his new life as a paralyzed veteran. We see him dealing with chronic pain, taking numerous medications, and navigating the bureaucracy of the Veterans Affairs (VA) system. Tomas becomes an activist, speaking out against the war and meeting with members of Congress to advocate for better treatment of veterans.

The film also interweaves interviews with other veterans of the war, including one man who lost both of his legs and another who lost his sight. These soldiers express frustration with the way the war was planned and executed, and describe feeling abandoned by their own government.

Body of War is a powerful film that exposes the human cost of war. It is both uplifting and heartbreaking to watch Tomas's journey, and one cannot help but feel anger at the way he and other veterans have been treated. The movie also raises important questions about the politics behind the war and the role of the media in shaping public opinion.

Robert Byrd, Garett Reppenhagen, and Cathy Smith are not actors in the traditional sense but rather individuals who contribute to the film's message through interviews and speaking engagements. Byrd serves as an anti-war voice in the film while Reppenhagen offers a perspective as a veteran of the Iraq War. Cathy Smith is not an activist in the same sense as Byrd and Reppenhagen but rather a victim of the war, her son having died while serving in Iraq.

In summary, Body of War is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in the consequences of war and the experiences of American soldiers. The film is gripping and informative, and offers a unique perspective on the Iraq War that is not often portrayed in the media. As Tomas Young himself says in the film's closing moments, "You may stop one war, but there'll always be another one." The message is clear: we must never forget the human cost of conflict.

Body of War is a 2007 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 60.