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"I think that although we veterans may have been
casualties of the war,
our families are forever prisoners of war."
Jerry Martin, Vietnam Veteran
The pain of war stays with us for a lifetime. No one knows
that better than the veteran and the veteran’s loved ones, yet each
feels the other could never possibly understand their unique place
in the world. Whether thirty years ago or today, countless veterans
return home where they and their families face some of their most
challenging battles.
- How does the veteran’s experience with war impact all
of their lives?
- Is it possible to learn from the past to heal the present
- and to protect the future?
 is a full length documentary,
driven by my personal need to understand if it is possible
to nurture the wounds of war with love, and to more fully
understand my twenty year relationship with a Vietnam Veteran,
which did not survive. My mission is to heal, and in the
doing of it, hope that it will heal others. How could we
have done it better? What works and what doesn’t when facing
life’s challenges together, where war has left an indelible
footprint? My veteran would say, "It doesn’t mean
anything; it was just one year of many." But the evidence
was all around us to suggest otherwise.
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is currently in the early stages of production. We will examine the fears, triumphs and challenges of
Vietnam Veterans and their families, looking for the best examples
we could find of what works. The purpose of the film is to bring awareness
to the newest generation of veterans and families, those facing the
impact of the War in Iraq, by uncovering lessons learned from
those who experienced war first hand.
- What have
we learned?
- How can
we share that knowledge to help our newest generation of veterans
and their families?
Although April 30, 2005, marked the thirtieth anniversary of the war’s
end, its impact still resonates. While many vets
have moved on successfully with their lives in the aftermath
of the war, others have not. For those who have not, “coming home”
was and continues to be, a difficult and emotional experience for
all involved.
explores the continuing legacy
of the Vietnam War as expressed in the lives of five veterans and
their families, and looks ahead at how this new awareness can help
our veterans who are experiencing the war in Iraq. The film provides
guidance for the tough challenges they will be facing in the future.
Beyond the Wall does not attempt to retell the story of war,
but rather examines the lasting impact of the war’s experience.
- What are the strategies used
by other veterans and their loved ones to successfully grapple
with the experience of war?
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