The Veteran’s Club at Bemidii State University will explore stories of military veterans who have struggled to reconnect with civilian society at an April 12 screening of the documentary film “Almost Sunrise.”
The film will be screened in Hagg-Sauer Hall room 100; doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7. Admission is free and open to all and popcorn will be provided.
“Almost Sunrise” follows Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, veterans struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts in the years after they returned home from combat in Iraq, on a 2,700-mile walk across the country – from Wisconsin to California, to reflect on their experiences at war and, ultimately, to save themselves.
The documentary explores concepts such as moral injury, suicide prevention and mental health among military veterans, as well as paths to healing and reconnection for veterans reentering civilian life. While the film exposes the brutality of war, it is a story of hope and potential solutions, including the promise of holistic practices for healing. The film calls on communities to better understand these psychic wounds and for the U.S. Government to acknowledge and treat moral injuries.
Tyler Campbell, a senior majoring in exercise science and a member of the BSU Veteran’s Club, says he is passionate about the topics expressed in the film.
“The film is important for me because it highlights the battle that veterans continue to fight after they come home,” Campbell said. “Too often, we think that once our men and women come back that the fight is over. But it never ends. We need films like this to help people understand the struggles they face and to raise awareness for their plights.”
“Almost Sunrise” is directed by Michael Collins and produced by Marty Syjuco. Collins is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who has won numerous international awards for his documentary and investigative journalism work. Syjuco has been producing documentary films since 2004, including the Emmy-nominated “Give Up Tomorrow.”
Contact
- Nina Johnson, associate director of Hobson Union; (218) 755-3760, njjohnson@bemidjistate.edu
Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. A member of the colleges and universities of Minnesota State, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. Bemidji State has an enrollment of more than 5,100 students and a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.