The Healing Of Brian Willson

On September 1, 1987, S. Brian Willson, Vietnam veteran, and non-violent political activist, laid his personal beliefs on the line when he knelt down on the railroad tracks of the Concord Naval Station in Concord, CA, to protest the government shipment of arms and ammunition to Nicaragua. He had warned government officials in advance that he would not budge. In the opening of this intense documentary, Kris Kristofferson describes the incident, noting that onlookers said the train actually sped up before plowing into Willson's body. Willson lost both legs beneath the knee, suffered severe head injuries, and was badly cut up and bruised. Miraculously, he survived. In interviews with Willson, and in overlaid narration, his adherence to Gandhi's concept of "satyagraha", or non-violent opposition is explored. And Willson is seen in earlier footage walking through Nicaragua, where over 40,000 have been killed, and 5,000 people are amputees. This is a powerful, disturbing film, and a warning is placed at the beginning of the tape that parents may want to view the material before allowing their children to see it. In addition to the shots of amputees hobbling through Nicaragua, the horrifying footage of Willson being struck by the train is shown. The film also assumes a basic understanding of the Nicaraguan situation, and contains no statements from government officials concerning the tragedy, because there were none. The incident received very little media coverage, and no governmental response...or, almost none: since the film was completed, three of the crew members on the train have filed suit against Willson for post-traumatic stress. Recommended for public and school libraries (Available from: Idanha Films, P.O. Box 17911, Boulder, CO 80308).