Left by the Ship

Release Date: 2012

Production Company: VISITOR Q sri

Director: Emma Rossi Landi and Alberto Vendemmiati

Run time: Full length 81 minutes, PBS length 57 minutes

Seen on: PBS Independent Lens
Website: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/left-by-the-ship/
http://www.leftbytheship.com/

Subic Bay in the Phillipines  was a major ship-repair, supply, and rest and recreation facility of the United States Navy.  When it was closed in 1992, it was the largest overseas military installation of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Left by the Ship tells the story of three young Amerasians, Charlene Elizabeth Rose, JR Nielson Dyas, and Robert Ianne Gonzaga.  These young people are in a strange position, caught between two societies.  The Amerasian Homecoming Act  "provides for the immigration to the United States of certain Amerasian children. In order to qualify for benefits under this law, an alien must have been born in Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Thailand, or Vietnam after December 31, 1950, and before October 22, 1982, and have been fathered by a U.S. citizen."  The Phillipines are not included in the act, despite the estimate of 52,000 Amerasians fathered by U.S. military service members.

Robert was a journalist and acts as the narrator of the film.  It is powerful to have the narrator as someone looking from within, not an outsider.  After having children, Robert found it important to learn about his background and help others find theirs. "And the thread of my life joined theirs."  He worked with JR, gang member who always found struggles despite his loving mother.  Together they found and contacted JR's father, a former Blood gang member is California.

The background of Amerasians is evident on their faces, especially those who are half African-American.  They are often stigmatized and bullied by their peers.  The story of Charlene Elizabeth was quite interesting.  She was in college and gained entrance into a beauty pageant.  Despite the economic hardships the competition placed on her and her mother, she competed.  It seemed significant to her to be included in a beauty pageant as a half-Filipino and half African-American.  She got choked up when introducing herself in the competition.

Overall, the film is a compelling story of three young people.  They are "not so different from other Filipinos in the way we lead out lives, the way we speak, the way we dress.  But inside us is a secret burden, a weight we all share."

Hell and Back Again

Release Date: 2011

Production Company:

Director: Danfung Dennis

Run time: 88 minutes

Seen on: Netflix DVD and Watch Instantly, showing on PBS May 24 10pm

Recommended: Yes, but not an easy viewing
Rotten Tomato Rating: 100%

Website: http://hellandbackagain.com/

With the Academy Awards coming up, I decided to try and watch this years nominees for Best documentary.  There are only two available on DVD so far.  "Hell and Back Again" is the first one I watched.

"Hell and Back Again" follows Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines in their deployment in Afghanistan.  The documentary features imbedded footage from Afghanistan and follows the life of Sgt. Nathan Harris after being wounded by machine gun fire in Afghanistan.

I was first impressed with the quality of the footage in Afghanistan.  The picture was extremely clear and stable.  It looked closer to a feature film or digital film rather than a documentary.  I was pleased with the quality of footage taken within the Marines.  After watching the Bonus Material on the DVD, I learned that the director, Danfung Dennis, used a custom Steadicam rig to ensure the smoothness of his footage.  It was also interesting to learn that his camera was one typcially used to shoot digital shorts.

The documentary intercuts Echo Company in Afghanistan with Sgt. Harris' life in North Carolina after his return.  Sgt. Harris was hit by machine gun fire in his right hip and leg.  His ongoing struggle of recovery is difficult to watch.  You see Harris' physical, emotional, and mental struggles upon his return.  He struggles more with navigating a Wal-Mart parking lot than an insurgent zone in Afghanistan.

This documentary tells the necessary story of the transition from a warrior to a Wounded Warrior.  Although it focuses on Sgt. Harris, you also see the struggle of his wife and friends.  This is not an easy or light viewing although I believe it needs to be seen.  While watching, I was reminded of "Restrepo," because it was difficult to watch, but something necessary for all to see.