Going Upriver

I saw this in Toronto. George Butler, director of "Pumping Iron" and "Shackleton," proves his talent again. Though obviously pro-Kerry, this film does not hit you with a sledge hammer and does not come across as propaganda. Artistically, it is in a different league than Michael Moore's heavy handed screed. I'd bet that even after the election is over, and even if Kerry loses, the film will still be frequently viewed because of its insights into the psyches and motives of the veterans who opposed the war. The scene where the veterans give back their medals should be mandatory viewing because it so forcefully rebuts the common conception that the act was some sort of merry prank. It was in fact a solemn and heart-wrenching experience for most who did it.