Silicon Valley Reads: Monday Movies in March - Poster Girl & Iraq Paper Scissors

Silicon Valley Reads 2013 focuses on the “invisible wounds of war.” The Monday Movies in March series has been featuring short documentary films about veterans. On Monday, March 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cedar Room, the final two films will be shown. Light refreshments will be served.

Poster Girl is a documentary (38 minutes) about Robynn Murray, an all-American high school cheerleader who became the poster girl for women in combat. Since returning from Iraq, however, she has fought an insidious foe: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This Academy Award-nominated film follows Robynn over the course of two years as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and redemption through art and poetry. The film also received two Emmy nominations.

Iraq Paper Scissors is a film (46 minutes) in which director Sara Nesson takes us into the lives of five Iraq War veterans who struggle with PTSD as they discover they have dreams and talents beyond machine guns and combat. This documentary intimately captures the young men and women deconstructing their uniforms, while sharing memories as soldiers and uncertain futures as civilians. Through following their creative and emotionally difficult—yet healing—journey, the dark space war that occupies their minds gives way to light, allowing us to see more clearly that those who have served refuse to be forgotten, and more importantly, ask to be understood.

For more information about these free Silicon Valley Reads film screenings, stop by the Reference Desk or call 1-408-615-2900.

posted by jb