When we hear about soldiers and casualties in war, much too often we perceive these human beings merely as statistics. Capturing the words and emotions of the mothers whose sons and daughters are…
My Child: Mothers of War
Running time: 89 mins
World PremiereWhen we hear about soldiers and casualties in war, much too often we perceive these human beings merely as statistics. Capturing the words and emotions of the mothers whose sons and daughters are fighting and dying in Iraq, director Angeliki Giannakopoulis (A Greek Woman; Cinequest, 2003) puts a human face on these soldiers in this extraordinarily powerful portrait of love, suffering and our common humanity.
Without taking a political stance on the war, Giannakopoulis introduces us to a cross-section of mothers who define the many faceted nature of the war. The former Vietnam protestor, who cannot fathom why her son is willing to die for a cause she does not believe in. The mother who trusts our President to do right, no matter what the reasoning. The Christian who has faith that Jesus will watch over her son. And we meet the soldiers themselves - some who are proud to fight for their country, others who come back changed for life, and some who don?t make it back at all.
Giannakopoulis? compelling film raises questions and issues of war, peace, patriotism, duty, courage, sacrifice, protest and death that go far beyond the specifics of the war in Iraq. But the one universal theme that shines throughout this unforgettably moving film is the love of a mother for her child and the pain endured when that child is lost forever.
Sandy Wolf
Preceded by: Mario Makes a Movie; dir. Roger Deutsch; 12min; Sparing neither subject, nor author, nor audience, the creative process is hauntingly, yet beautifully, portrayed.
MAVERICK COMPETITION