Last Day of Freedom

Told completely through simple and stark line-drawing animation, filmmakers Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman's shattering, Oscar-nominated true story of a murder committed by a troubled Vietnam War veteran is all the more personal for being told by the killer's grieving, older brother. Bill Babbitt narrates this tragic tale about a younger sibling, Manny, who apparently was a sweet and typical kid until an accident caused a serious brain injury. The damage done to Manny's learning and cognitive abilities was extensive, and—as is often typical with head traumas—his personality changed. Unable to pass a written test for entrance in the U.S. military, Manny nevertheless was allowed to enlist and found himself at Khe Sanh in Vietnam. A shrapnel injury to his brain further affected Manny's quality of life, and upon returning to America he became homeless despite Bill's efforts to give him shelter and care. When Manny is accused of a terrible crime, Bill struggles with whether to turn his brother over to the police, and then is despondent when the judicial system simply swallows Manny up. Last Day of Freedom touches on several difficult subjects: the way we treat our veterans, racism (the Babbitts are African Americans), homelessness, and criminal justice. A powerful, emotional documentary, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)