An old friend in England sent me this video last week. It's one of those musical surprise interludes, this one happened in a school lunch hall in the south of England-
The movie? A 1996 film I'd never heard of but, attracted by its cast, had picked up the DVD in a thrift store: The War at Home: Martin Sheen, Kathy Bates, Emilio Estevez. It's a story set somewhere in Texas, or maybe Oklahoma in the early 1970s, around Thanksgiving time. The Collier family had recently welcomed their son home from two years' service in Vietnam. Martin Sheen and Kathy Bates are superbly and uncomfortbly just so believable as a trying to be helpful and fair father pushed to his limit, and a niggling nagging won't shut-up God-fearing mom. Emilio Estevez is the former soldier son, physically fine but mentally damaged by his experiences in Vietnam. There's a sister, too, played by Kimberly Williams. The story wouldn't have been uncommon in real life, in 1970s USA, I feel sure. We found the film uncomfortable to watch at times, but so well acted it'd have been churlish to ditch it. Some of the background music was a bright point - Songs from that era, such as these from Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young:
The movie? A 1996 film I'd never heard of but, attracted by its cast, had picked up the DVD in a thrift store: The War at Home: Martin Sheen, Kathy Bates, Emilio Estevez. It's a story set somewhere in Texas, or maybe Oklahoma in the early 1970s, around Thanksgiving time. The Collier family had recently welcomed their son home from two years' service in Vietnam. Martin Sheen and Kathy Bates are superbly and uncomfortbly just so believable as a trying to be helpful and fair father pushed to his limit, and a niggling nagging won't shut-up God-fearing mom. Emilio Estevez is the former soldier son, physically fine but mentally damaged by his experiences in Vietnam. There's a sister, too, played by Kimberly Williams. The story wouldn't have been uncommon in real life, in 1970s USA, I feel sure. We found the film uncomfortable to watch at times, but so well acted it'd have been churlish to ditch it. Some of the background music was a bright point - Songs from that era, such as these from Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young:
5 comments:
Opera performed during school lunch is pretty good...fun to watch the kids. I think it was "Good Morning America" that recently had a variation of that theme. I saw the commercials for the two segments, but didn't actually see the segments (I'm loath to watch daytime TV). Both were of incompetent-appearing adults surrounded by youth, one pair ice skating, the other pair dancing. The youngsters barely tolerate the dufus adults, but are suddenly taken aback, when the incompetent adults suddenly turn professional and give dazzling performances.
I don't recall ever viewing "The War at Home", but knew several in real-life, first-hand. My brother-in-law, for one, who was forever changed. To add to his misery, my sister had completely changed in the interim as well, and was a born-again Christian upon his return. They separated and divorced almost immediately. I was fortunate to have not been drafted for service...I was prime age...my draft-number was never selected, but it was only a matter of time, had the war continued.
Last night, I viewed PBS' "Independent Lens" film, "India's Daughter":
"India’s Daughter is the story of the brutal gang rape and murder in Delhi of 23-year-old medical student Jyoti Singh, which sparked outrage and protests in India, a country beset by extreme poverty and gender inequality."
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/videos/indias-daughter/
The first twenty minutes were difficult to watch (to listen, actually) regarding the incident, itself. The film is one of the best documentaries that I've seen for quite a while...very powerful. The film touches upon many sub-subjects that intertwine with the main topic. I tuned-in by chance and nearly changed channels several times feeling too overwhelmed by several of the interviews, but I felt incredibly gifted by the conclusion...such an important film to understand their culture, but our American and human culture, as well. It should be mandatory viewing in every high school in the USA. The film was forbidden in India!
mike ~ Yes, the post-Vietnam problems must have been wide-spread - husband knew someone whose personality changed completely on return from that war.
I'm not sure I could stomach "India's Daughter", at the moment mike, but thanks for the introduction to it.
We felt like something light last evening, so sorted out "The Butcher's Wife" (1991) from Netflix's lists. Silly romantic comedy about a clairvoyant woman (Demi Moore)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Butcher's_Wife
Silly, certainly, but nicely played by some decent actors - also in the cast Jeff Daniels, Mary Steenburgen, George Dzundza.
I also missed The War at Home .. will check Netflix to see if its available. I watched Born on the 4th of July several times . While I am not a true fan of Tom Cruise, his acting was superb and could be Felt thru the screen.
I too wont watch India's Daughter. Just not mentally or emotionally strong enough to handle it. I do hope her abuse and death made it better for others.
On a side not= 31 governors are saying they will refuse any refugees in their state.. Not sure when I may have missed the fact that there are NO border patrols at each state line.. so on that not - those Governors are Idiots to even make such a statement~!!
Sonny ~ Somehow missed your comment here - sorry!
Re refugees - the Govs seem to be forgetting "What would Jesus do?" :-/
Indeed~!!
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