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Going to War is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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About the Show
What is it really like to go to war? Filled with terror, pain, and grief, it also brings exhilaration, and a profound sense of purpose. In GOING TO WAR, renowned authors Karl Marlantes and Sebastian Junger help us make sense of this paradox and get to the heart of what it’s like to be a soldier at war. Veterans of various conflicts reveal some universal truths of combat with unflinching candor.
War is life multiplied by some number __that no one has ever heard of. __ – Sebastian Junger
What is it really like to go to war? For millennia, only warriors could really answer that question. Now, a new PBS documentary takes us inside the experience of battle and reveals the soldier’s experiences as never before.
War is the ultimate paradox. Filled with terror, pain and grief, it also brings exhilaration, and a profound sense of purpose. GOING TO WAR helps us make sense of this paradox and get to the heart of what it’s like to be a soldier in times of war.
The film illuminates the experiences of training, battle, and coming home for soldiers across conflicts, revealing the universals of the warrior’s journey. Leading our exploration are Sebastian Junger, bestselling author and director of the Academy Award-nominated film Restrepo, and Karl Marlantes, decorated Marine officer and author of the bestselling novel Matterhorn and the fearless memoir What It is Like to Go to War. Both men bring firsthand experience, hard-won wisdom, and an abiding commitment to telling the warrior’s story with insight and unflinching candor.
While there have been innumerable books and media projects about war and wars throughout history, there have been just a handful of works that have explored the psychological, societal, and pervasive human experience of the warrior regardless of conflict.
This is the fresh terrain of GOING TO WAR.
GOING TO WAR
Find out why it is important to understand the soldier’s experience of combat and for veterans to tell their stories.
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Produced by Michael Epstein, GOING TO WAR is a production of Twin Cities PBS in association with Vulcan Productions, Inc. and PBS. Major funding is provided by the Corporation for...