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October
9, 2006
VOL.
44, NO. 17Oakland,
CA
Movie
review
Independent film explores emotion
and trauma of military moms
Josie Monaghan,
a member of St. Ignatius Parish in Antioch, spoke at a rally in July.
“I was grieving when my son entered the military,” she said.
Monaghan is one of three military mothers from Antioch whose emotional
journeys were chronicled and chosen for the final cut of “My Child:
Mothers of War.”
The independent documentary film is about the feelings and trauma experienced
by mothers who have sons serving in the war in Iraq.
The film captures several military mothers looking back on the details
of their daily struggle with their child’s decision to join the
military through to the time of their child’s return from service.
Of the soldiers featured in the film, some have returned alive, some permanently
injured and some deceased.
As the women generously share their innermost feelings of loss, fear,
grief, anger, worry and concern for their son’s well-being, the
viewer learns that these feelings are common to all mothers of soldiers
at war.
In one scene Monaghan jokingly asserts that she hoped her only son Joey,
age 22, might have grown up to be a priest. Amid tears she then recalls,
“The worst feeling is not knowing if he will come back.”
Though her son did return from his first assignment in Iraq (February
‘03 to October ’04), she said he expected to go through the
same anxieties once again when he was scheduled to be re-deployed to Iraq
in September.
During her difficult times when she was almost in despair and too weak
to pray, it was her Cursillo community that kept her going and brought
her through with prayer, she said. A member of a local support group for
military parents, Blue Star Moms, Monaghan is also involved in prison
ministry and helping foster children.
With the help of a City Council member and his wife, Monaghan organized
a two-hour rally before the film’s first East Bay Area screening
at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre. The ceremony included the Pledge
and National Anthem, speeches from community leaders, a bar-b-que lunch,
quilt raffle, T-shirt & DVD sales and a prayer circle.
A touring torch sponsored by the Blue Star Riders was lighted and passed
around the circle while participants said something, silently or aloud,
about those who serve or have served in the military.
Mayor Don Freitas, a member of Antioch’s Holy Rosary Parish, said
in his rally speech, “No one should ever return from war and not
be supported. We need to support those who have been to war. I hope that
this film will inspire people to discuss this war and embrace those who’ve
fought in this war.”
The film gives rise to reflection on those serving in the war and the
daily sacrifices their families make. It is a welcome reminder to support
military parents whose suffering is often hidden.
For those who have children entering the military for the first time,
it may be comforting to identify with the women featured in the film,
though the realities of war shown are not pleasant.
Film Director Angeliki Giannakopoulos, in her rally speech, stressed that
her goal in making the film was not to promote a pro-war or anti-war political
position. “It was to bring an awareness of the fact that behind
every soldier and death of a soldier is a whole family.
After viewing my film, I receive calls from people who say that now they
understand this concept.” “My Child: Mothers of War”
was an award winner at three 2006 film festivals. Giannakopoulos has completed
two other women-themed films: “Age of Elegance” about the
Mrs. Senior America Pageant , and soon to be released “A Greek Woman”
about her mother.
To arrange a screening of the film in your area or to purchase an expansion
of the screen version, “My Child: Mothers of War" on DVD, which
spotlights 60 mothers of war, go to www.mychildthemovie.com.
Angeliki Giannakopoulos can be reached at (818)728-0720.
