The recent tragedy at Fort Hood highlights a fact, which has become increasingly apparent since the Vietnam War. As a nation, we do not know how to handle the traumas of war. How do we repay our warriors for the sacrifices they have made? More often than not, we turn our heads and look away.
“The Messenger” does not look away. This film charts the emotional and physiological development of two traumatized American war vets that have been given the formidable job of casualty notification. They are the guys that tell the family that their loved ones have been killed in action.
At each call, they take the blame for being the bearers of bad news. They are slapped, spit upon, insulted, and scorned by the grief stricken families. Throughout the ensuing hysteria, they must remain firm, centered, and noble. This steadiness then leads them toward healing.
These scenes build and then explode in the same way that a good action sequence develops. The emotional tension goes off the Richter scale. Through learning to remain open and true to others during these intense moments, they begin to do the same for themselves.
“The Messenger” does not look away. This film charts the emotional and physiological development of two traumatized American war vets that have been given the formidable job of casualty notification. They are the guys that tell the family that their loved ones have been killed in action.
At each call, they take the blame for being the bearers of bad news. They are slapped, spit upon, insulted, and scorned by the grief stricken families. Throughout the ensuing hysteria, they must remain firm, centered, and noble. This steadiness then leads them toward healing.
These scenes build and then explode in the same way that a good action sequence develops. The emotional tension goes off the Richter scale. Through learning to remain open and true to others during these intense moments, they begin to do the same for themselves.
