Part VIII: "Thoughts on post-production"

Many people are wary of being manipulated by filmmakers with an ax to grind. On the other hand, what’s the point, if you have nothing to say? We’ve tried very hard to eliminate all of the stuff that tends to put off viewers who are politically near the middle. The vets are remarkably calm, considering the subject matter. Their stories are straightforward accounts of their experiences, without any grandstanding.
During editing, we relived all of the conversations. Melissa, who waited at home while her husband, Patrick, was in Iraq, dreading a knock on the door. Jose, from NY, was in the military and became a conscientious objector, told me, “Not only are we bombing poor people, but we’re bombing brown people. I’m a person of color living in the United States, and things aren’t so rosy here.” And Fernando, from the Bronx, who read a very clever poem (that he and his girlfriend wrote) in a rap rhythm. He believes that the war is about the US establishing a permanent base in the Middle East.
I was recently asked what I learned from making this documentary, and I think I can answer that question simply. I learned that the war (even looked at only from the American side) is extraordinarily costly in human terms. There is a vast amount of damage done to young people, exclusive of bombs, bullets, and shrapnel (which is bad enough). The risk of psychological damage, some of it long lasting, is quite substantial.