March 29, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

“Of Men and War” to premiere in West L.A. on Friday

Laurent_Bécue_Rena. Photo Camille_Cottagnoud/Alice Films
Laurent Bécue Renard. Photo Camille Cottagnoud/Alice Films

By Nicole Horowitz

Director Laurent Bécue-Renard has directed a quiet yet chilling documentary “Of Men and War” that opens this Friday, Nov. 13. A premiere will be held at the Laemmle in West Los Angeles.

The film tells the story of combat veterans who left their combat tours, only to return home with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Bécue-Renard captures the pain, and the confusion of what it means to be a veteran utterly changed from war back on civilian soil. The film does a phenomenal job at expressing the side of living life as a veteran adjusting without judgment or moralization.

What drew Bécue-Renard to direct this movie was due to the lasting effects of war in the western world, from the two world wars forward.

The film is about veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the painstakingly difficult process to just step out the door.
The film is about veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the painstakingly difficult process to just step out the door.

The exploration of the psyche of a veteran was never talked about or discussed in a family setting. What little was known was proven to be traumatic. Bécue-Renard went into filming the documentary with the idea that “the war has shaped the identity not only of the person fighting and their family, but of the world in the first half of the century.”

“What little was spoken of it was transferred via experience and not spoken,” Bécue-Renard explains of what drew him to create such a movie. His own personal life was affected by war: his grandparents fought in World War 1, and were the same age as the veterans in the movie. As a result, this documentary has a personal touch to it, thus adding an extra textured layer to the subject.

The creation of the documentary was no light feat.

It was a “very long term project,” according to Bécue-Renard, as it took more than 10 years to create (this project started in early 2004).

There was plenty of scouting and meeting a lot of veterans, with their families, wives and even kids. Therapists were included in this process.

Bécue-Renard meticulously and thoroughly underwent the challenge of understanding the veteran’s experience of war related trauma via research. Many months were spent filming at a residential facility/halfway house for veterans, which wasn’t in existence until much later. There was an enormous amount of footage by the end: filming ended up covering 500 hours of material.

The process behind creating this documentary was innovative because of the execution. He embedded a camera in the veteran’s therapy sessions, which he believed added a layer of creativity to the project. This way of viewing allowed the audience to experience the therapy sessions alongside the veterans. The veterans “know they are telling this story for the first time; it is a difficult process to cope with.”

“Therapy is a creative scene: this is where people create the story a narrative to live with what happened,” he explains of his technique.

However, Bécue-Renard worried about how the veterans would feel to opening up with a camera. He worried that any day of filming could be the last. The therapy sessions, as explained by the words of the veterans, explained the truth of the experience that the veterans faced, Bécue-Renard explained.

This film process had therapeutic value for both the veterans and the audience viewing the documentary. It is important for traumatized veterans to find ways to understand and make bonds with the outside world, as it is lonely for them transitioning into civilian life. Only the veterans could know the truth of the events that took place. For the veterans, seeing the movie for the first time gave the veterans a story that has a meaning; before the movie, all they had was chaos.

The most important theme of this movie primarily focuses on the strength of life.

“These guys are survivors: their experience shows us how these young men have been destroyed kept surviving,” Bécue-Renard explains. Knowing that these veterans are in the process of creating a narrative helps them survive. As a result, this gives lots of hope for viewers. The analysis of a legacy left behind lets the audience understand.

For more information, visit www.ofmenandwar.com.

Related Posts

Foreign Currency in International Business Expansion

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

Business has transformed into a whole different dimension. The interconnectedness across countries is increasing the feasibility of business expansions. It...

How to Select Quality Solar Panels and Installation in California

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

As solar energy becomes more affordable and popular, many homeowners in California are considering installing solar panels. However, not all...

Celebrating Christmas in Las Vegas: A Winter Wonderland of Fun and Festivity

November 15, 2023

November 15, 2023

As the festive season approaches, Las Vegas transforms into a glittering winter wonderland, offering a unique and magical Christmas experience....

Navigating Oxnard’s Public Transportation System: A Driver’s Guide

November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Whether you live in Oxnard or want to visit, it’s useful to know how to get around this coastal city....

15 Tips For Keeping Burglars Out Of Your Business

October 16, 2023

October 16, 2023

In the ever-evolving realm of business security, the persistent threat of burglary perpetually looms overhead like a dark cloud. The...

US Gambling Laws

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Whilst casino gaming is a significant part of the American culture, US gambling laws are ever-changing. Prior to the Unlawful...

Reasonable Renting in The City of Angels

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

What would it be like to wake up in a bustling metropolis filled with endless possibilities, set against rows of...

BEST BITCOINS CASINO 2023: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

May 29, 2023

May 29, 2023

Bitcoins casino and cryptocurrency casinos are in full swing, and they will increase users exponentially in the coming years. However,...

Messi Drives Up Ticket Prices Up for this MLS Season.

May 4, 2023

May 4, 2023

Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer (MLS) is already causing a stir, and the profound effect it is having...

Don’t Miss Your Last Chance to Experience CORTEO by Cirque du Soleil!

April 25, 2023

April 25, 2023

The Show’s Run At The Microsoft Theater Ends On April 30  Time is running out for fans of CORTEO by...

Enforcement of LA’s Home Sharing Ordinance for Short-Term Rentals Falls Significantly in 2022

April 4, 2023

April 4, 2023

Better Neighbors LA report highlights the inadequacies of enforcement measures for short-term rentals in Los Angeles, calling for increased regulation...

Tragic Fire Claims Lives of Elderly Couple and Their Cat in Mar Vista

February 9, 2023

February 9, 2023

Doris Bergman and Albert Sassoe Jr. victims in Wednesday morning fire By Sam Catanzaro An elderly couple and their cat...

4 Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

January 2, 2023

January 2, 2023

New graduates have fresh skill sets and they are driven by a desire to succeed. Hampering this desire, however, is...

Cancer Cartel Provides Financial Help To Cancer Patients

November 16, 2022

November 16, 2022

Cancer Cartel is helping cancer patients focus on their treatment, not the financial stress of living with a diagnosis. Learn...

Column: Tenant Support Could Tip the Political Scales in CD-11 Council Race

October 29, 2022

October 29, 2022

Darling pushes advocacy of renter’s rights over Park in tightly contested battle to succeed Mike Bonin! By Nick Antonicello In...