As I observed newspapers and network broadcasts in the last week reporting about the withdrawal of American combat forces from Iraq, I also received information about the release of Every War Has Two Losers, a video concerning William Stafford’s views on war, as well as his poetry, principles, and practice of pacifism, which he maintained even in the difficult time during World War Two, regarded by most of his fellow citizens as a necessary war.
The documentary is directed by Haydn Reiss, who also produced William Stafford & Robert Bly: A Literary Friendship. The film includes commentary by a number of authors, including Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Maxine Hong Kingston, Michael Meade, W.S. Merwin, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kim Stafford, and Alice Walker. Narration is supplied by Academy Award-winner Linda Hunt, and actor Peter Coyote lends his marvelously distinctive voice for the words of William Stafford.
A promotional piece for the production comments that Every War Has Two Losers is “based on the journals of William Stafford, a conscientious objector in World War Two and National Book Award winner. Despite being told that war is inevitable, Stafford disagreed. He saw war as a choice—a human choice—and only one of the ways nations can respond to conflict.
“Using Stafford’s eloquent poetry and prose, the film invites the viewer to reflect on their own ideas regarding war and how individual witness can contribute to a more peaceful world.”
Many PBS stations will be airing this documentary in markets throughout the country on Wednesday, September 29, and a schedule of broadcasts is available for reference.
[Readers are also invited to visit another post on “One Poet’s Notes” that contains an essay, “William Stafford: Genius in Camouflage,” written by Jonathan Holden and previously published in Valparaiso Poetry Review.]
The documentary is directed by Haydn Reiss, who also produced William Stafford & Robert Bly: A Literary Friendship. The film includes commentary by a number of authors, including Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Maxine Hong Kingston, Michael Meade, W.S. Merwin, Naomi Shihab Nye, Kim Stafford, and Alice Walker. Narration is supplied by Academy Award-winner Linda Hunt, and actor Peter Coyote lends his marvelously distinctive voice for the words of William Stafford.
A promotional piece for the production comments that Every War Has Two Losers is “based on the journals of William Stafford, a conscientious objector in World War Two and National Book Award winner. Despite being told that war is inevitable, Stafford disagreed. He saw war as a choice—a human choice—and only one of the ways nations can respond to conflict.
“Using Stafford’s eloquent poetry and prose, the film invites the viewer to reflect on their own ideas regarding war and how individual witness can contribute to a more peaceful world.”
Many PBS stations will be airing this documentary in markets throughout the country on Wednesday, September 29, and a schedule of broadcasts is available for reference.
[Readers are also invited to visit another post on “One Poet’s Notes” that contains an essay, “William Stafford: Genius in Camouflage,” written by Jonathan Holden and previously published in Valparaiso Poetry Review.]
1 comment:
Thank you for this. The film deserves being seen widely.
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