Event

A SOLDIER'S PEACE

A Soldier's Peace
Kristen Thompson, Marshall Thompson 2008 | Documentary
Run time: 88 min. | U S A
A soldier returns home from Iraq, and because of his experiences, immediately begins to protest the war. He walks the length of his home state, Utah, the reddest state in the nation, to help end the war. During his 500-mile peace walk, he overcomes blisters, sleet and snow, government intimidation, and stereotypes. After the initial thrill of walking with large groups through cities wears off, he finds himself trudging through abandonned highways in a part of the country that is simply apathetic. He learns from his wife that a lump on their 1-year-old daughter's neck might be cancer. He decides to go home and be with his family, but with the encouragement of his wife and a Vietnam War veteran from Oregon whom he befriended on the walk, he continues the protest. Things begin to change for the better. His patriotism is renewed as he meets more and more peace-minded people from across the country who show up to walk with him. He finds out that his daughter doesn't have cancer. As he meets long-time activists like Martin Sheen, Ron Kovic, Cindy Sheehan and Daniel Ellsberg, he learns about the proud history of dissent and protest in America. He concludes that if his protest doesn't help bring peace to Iraq, it will at least bring peace to his troubled life.