Searching for Home, Coming Back From War

Searching for Home, Coming Back from War is a compelling and brutally honest documentary film that delves deep into the trauma, struggle, and eventual redemption of veterans returning from American's biggest conflicts. Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Eric Christiansen, the film takes a poignant and heartfelt look at the personal trajectories of veterans from different eras. The film released in 2015, features Kenny Bass among various other veterans representing the wars in WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War, and Afghanistan.

The documentary revolves around the community of American war veterans struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, and other mental and physical trauma. It explores their challenges during combat and, more crucially, their battle to integrate back into the society and family life post-combat, underscoring the long-lasting effects of war on personal as well as social fronts. The movie acts as a mirror, reflecting the harsh realities many veterans face after returning home, including the traditional and non-traditional therapies they undergo.

Kenny Bass steals the show in the film through a powerful portrayal of his journey. Bass, a war veteran himself, resonates with the raw vulnerability of his experiences. After being wounded in combat during his time in Iraq, he was diagnosed with PTSD, which subsequently led to him founding the Battle Buddy Foundation. The movie effectively uses Bass's journey as the touchstone while it weaves in and out of other veterans' narratives. The stories add multi-dimensionality to the film and depict a gamut of emotions that reveals the lingering effects of war.

The film moves past the usual lens of viewing war, displaying the harmful side effects they have on the physical and mental health of the veterans. It reflects their experiences with PTSD, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and depression as they try to find a semblance of normalcy and peace. There's a distinctive focus on the Veterans Affairs healthcare system's role and the various support systems available for the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans such as group therapy, nature therapy, equine therapy and such. The film does not shy away from exposing the hurdles and inefficiencies of these systems either and prompts a necessary dialogue.

"Searching for Home, Coming Back from War" significantly echoes the importance of support networks, both familial and professional, in helping these veterans readjust to civilian life. The film stages a platform for their voices, their commitments, and their will to fight, survive, and thrive despite what they've been through. The film approaches these sensitive themes not only from veterans' perspectives but also from their wives, family members, and caregivers, offering a multi-faceted perspective on existing challenges and prospects for healing.

Additionally, it sheds light on the camaraderie and bond among these veterans, which persist long after the battlefield's ceasefires. It showcases their shared experiences and memories providing a healing path, as they find companionship amongst each other in this journey home.

The production quality of the movie is terrific, with Christiansen's direction knowledgeably steering it through heartrending and complex emotional landscapes. There's a clear intent to provide in-depth, compassionate coverage of its subjects. The interviews are deeply personal, spiced with archival stock footage, photographs, and home videos that add to the authenticity of the film.

While the film is essentially a documentary at its core, it uses the tools of the cinema, namely, music, cinematography, and editing, to essay its narrative with emotional heft and universal appeal. The editing by Brian Singbiel is seamless, bringing out the raw emotions encompassed within the film. The music by Christopher Hoag is evocatively appropriate, the pensive and somber tunes corresponding to the film's tone and punctuating every significant moment.

"Searching for Home, Coming Back from War" is a significant contribution to the genre of war documentaries through its remarkable courage to shed light on the untold stories of the veterans and their battles long after the war itself is over. It's not just a critique of the war; it's a powerful tribute to the human spirit and the relentless struggle of hope to prevail over despair. This is a crucial film for anyone interested in understanding the deep-seated effects of post-war traumas and the hope for recovery that lies within individuals and communities.