Thoughts on THE WAY WE GET BY @ Atlanta Film Festival

A Handshake and Three Simple Words
By Guest Blogger: Johann Lohrmann

It starts with a handshake and the words ‘welcome home heroes’. Yesterday I had the privilege of sitting in a theatre in Atlanta, Georgia to watch the film, The Way We Get By. The best films tell a story that not only holds the audience’s attention but inspires reflection and action. The Way We Get By does exactly that.

William Knight, Joan Gaudet and Jerry Mundy make daily treks to the airport to greet the troops who are leaving or returning for duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The servicemen, servicewomen and the troop greeters share the uncertainty that is life. Both are fighting an external and internal war. The external war is the elements. The internal war is loneliness.

You can see in their eyes that loneliness is never far away. Here are three souls in the latter part of their lives. They could either sit at home feeling sorry for themselves or they could make a difference in the life of a stranger. How many of us in times of loneliness have thought to reach out to those who are in need? Interestingly enough, reaching out to others helps not only the other person in need but it diminishes the loneliness. It turns out we need each other.

William, Joan and Jerry have different obstacles to overcome. Some are health related. Some are financially related. Some are dealing with seeing their loved ones leaving to fight overseas. No matter what the obstacle the troop greeters have resolved to be a part of the solution. All of us are faced with one problem or another. But it is how we move through the barrier that makes all the difference. We can be sad, feel sorry for ourselves or we can decide to act and make the situation better. These three senior citizens make a difference in the soldier’s lives.

This film offers so many lessons. It reminds me of the power of the simple act of kindness. It teaches the importance of having a purpose. It reinforces the lesson that all are worthy of love and respect no matter what their age or ability.

It made me think about what is truly important. There is a purpose that is beyond one’s identity. In this case there are three senior citizens who are smashing the notions of what it means to be a senior. Just because you retire does not mean you stop living. If anything, that is the time of life when you can share your knowledge and experience with the younger generations.

The title of the film The Way We Get By is appropriately named. Yes, these three seniors may not move very fast and they may require the aid of a walker. It may take them longer to get to where they are going but in so many ways they are considerably light years ahead of where the rest of us need to be.

If you have a chance to see The Way We Get By, do it. I enjoyed it and it made me think of what I can do to make this world a better place for those who may not be so fortunate. It will do the same for you.

Merci,

Johann Lohrmann
www.johannlohrmann.com

Atlanta based Johann Lohrmann was recently nominated for an Emmy for his documentary, How I Survived World War II. It explored how soldiers, children and those who lived and served during World War II survived. His work has appeared on PBS, BET, TimeWarner and online. He recently finished production on the award-winning documentary, Where Wealth Lives: An Exploration of the African-American Economic Experience. It is slated for national release on PBS in 2010. He has two documentaries in production.