Another Kind of Courage features moving performances by veteran poets/musicians and family members expressing their experiences with war and homecoming. The Warrior Writers poets are Jan Barry, Kevin Basl, Chantelle Bateman, Jeremy Stainthorp Berggren, Lovella Calica, Jacob George, Charles H. Johnson, Jennifer Pacanowski, Carlos Sirah, Brian Turner, Jon Turner, and Eli Wright. The powerful, original music is written by Tomás Doncker and Yusef Komunyakaa and performed by Tomás Doncker & The True Groove All-Stars. Another Kind of Courage was filmed at the Dodge Poetry Festival at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Poets spoke their truths, bringing their stories to the 17,000 in attendance at the festival – moving some in the audience to tears, but more importantly, educating and advocating for change.
The creative writing by Warrior Writers poets is powerful, emotional, and haunting. It is critical for veterans to share their stories, as they are too often silenced during their military careers and have minimal opportunities to share their perspectives. The sharing of veteran artwork helps to bridge the gap between veterans and civilians. There is a history of veterans telling their stories, both as a personal healing process and a community educational process. Author Maxine Hong Kingston has been facilitating an ongoing writers’ workshop for Vietnam era veterans for 50 years, inspired by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who invited Vietnamese war veterans and their family members to retreats to meditate, write and heal. Warrior Writers poets continue that tradition of education, healing, and building community.
Whats Next?
Screening | Date | Tickets |
---|---|---|
Multi-Screening: Another Kind of Courage, Far Away Man, Choices, Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas, Blue, Be a Man, Be a Lady, The Captain's Heart @ Virtual Theater | November 20, 2022, 5:45 pm EST | Get Tickets |