Preview: Body of War

Currently on the festival circuit and recently praised by Toronto Film Festival audiences, Body of War tells the heart wrenching story of how 25-year-old Thomas Young became a victim of the Iraq War.

Young enlisted two days after 9-11, intending to fight against terrorists in Afghanistan. He was, instead, sent to Iraq. One year after the Iraq War became official, ten months after President Bush declared it "Mission Accomplished," and less than a week after Young reached Iraq, he was shot in the spine and paralyzed from the neck down.

Young's mother, Cathy, brought his story to the attention of Ralph Nader, who told it to Phil Donahue, who (with co-director Ellen Spiro) made a film about it. Eddie Vedder was enlisted to contribute the film's very moving music.

The Body of War is an important addition to the catalogue of documentaries about the Iraq War. In it, Donahue, in his inimitable style, presents the most challenging, perplexing question: For what purpose?

Photo: Eddie Vedder, Phil Donahue and Thomas Young (in wheelchair). (Photo © Mobilus Media)