Just finished watching the award-winning documentary My Child: Mothers of War, a film about the mothers of soldiers currently serving in Iraq.
Many of the families are from Texas, so this film hits close to home. The film is essentially a biography of a handful of our brave soldiers who’ve been deployed to Iraq - as seen through the eyes of their mothers. It’s a gripping personalization of the stories behind each of our American heroes.
As the producers introduced it to me…
Over half a million mothers have sent their sons and daughters to war since Sept. 11, 2001. Some of them have supported their child’s patriotic service, while others have condemned the war and its cause, angry at those responsible for sending their loved ones across the world to fight. But all of these mothers–regardless of their political sentiment or affiliation–share a common connection: an overwhelming concern for their child’s safety and a sense of powerlessness when they realize they are no longer able to protect and shelter them from danger.
The first time I watched this film, I ran through every possible emotion - from pride and patriotism to sadness and pity. The families come from every walk of life and diverse backgrounds. From a family born and raised in Texas to a family that came to America to flee a war in their own country. From those who supported the war in Iraq to those who blamed President Bush for their son’s injuries or death. From military families to anti-war activists.
It removes almost all pretense of politics from the real-life experiences these families face when their sons join the armed services. The stories are told by the mothers, each of whom are speaking as if they’re chatting with the viewer, whom they’ve known forever. They recount the days their boys were born, complete with photos and home movies through the moment their sons deployed - or in one case, quit the military. Some have returned home battered and bruised, others missing limbs. Some are still deployed while some have returned in flag-draped caskets.
The film is so well done that you feel like you’re right there when the phone rings or the knock comes to the mother’s front door. There are actual clips of press briefings by the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld and General Richard Myers, as well as actual footage of combat as recorded by the soldiers themselves. All of these segments intertwine to give you a unique perspective ranging from the homefront to the frontlines.
The Director, Angeliki Giannakopoulos, has done an excellent job capturing all sides of the personal toll of war. Get a copy today and watch it for yourself…
…and feel it tug at your soul.
