Iraq movie brings war home

There are a million stories that could be told on the personal toll the Iraqi war has taken.

This Friday and Saturday you are invited to view one of them — through the camera lens of award-winning cinematographer, Eric Daarstad.

The film, "Fighting for Life" will be shown at the Panida this Friday and Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The documentary attempts to put a human face on a very inhumane Iraqi War.

This bloody war has now gone on longer than World War 2 and shows no signs of abating. The disagreement about whether this war was somehow just will surely outlast the conflict.

But what will remain after the fighting stops will be the human carnage left behind.

Daarstad, who has called Sandpoint home for decades, was part of a crew that flew to Germany and the United States to follow a soldier through surgery and rehabilitation.

It's a movie one reviewer said the movie was "haunting."

This movie isn't Hollywood. There isn't a happy ending. Maybe that's what this country needs?

It's high time this country look at the Iraqi War with an uncensored view and this experience provides it.

It will take movies like "Fighting for Life" to make this war actually hit home.

If you want to witness the real human toll of war, we recommend you attend either of the showings.

David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.