Documentary puts the spotlight on disabled Iraq veterans

Matt Cook knew that if he made a film about wounded war veterans, he would have to fight the temptation to load the movie down with his own political agenda. Unwilling to risk “diluting the narrative,” Cook chose to leave Swim, the story of two Iraq veterans, just that–a story. Swim documents the journey of David Broyles and Rush Vann as they train to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar in an effort to spread awareness for charities benefitting blind and disabled veterans. Although the university’s Student Center auditorium was not at full capacity at the film’s premiere, viewers were obviously moved by Swim’s heartfelt message. The front row of the auditorium was filled with Laredo’s own veterans who had been honored earlier that day in a ceremony in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center. “My father served in the Middle East while he was in the Army, and fortunately, he returned to our family safely,” said Sophia Ferraro, a junior History major. “A film like this shows me the sadder and more real part of war that he perhaps wanted to shield from me as a child.” Another student, sophomore Cristina Granados, also commented on Swim.”The film was extremely informative yet touching,” said Granados, who also revealed she was “very happy to see that TAMIU is bringing in speakers like Matt Cook.” The journey of Broyles and Vann took them not only to Spain and northern Africa but also across the country where they met war veterans as young as the students watching the film. These soldiers had been left both physically and mentally scarred by their experiences in the war. After training and raising funds over a period of six months and swimming close to three hundred training miles, Broyles and Vann eventually became the 16th and 17th Americans to swim across the twelve miles that make up the Strait of Gibraltar after facing such challenges as ships, rough currents, and strong winds.Although Cook, an alumni of the University of Texas film program, was on active duty during the production of the Swim, he is now back home in his native Texas working on a new documentary that will “raise awareness for paralyzed vets in our state and also address the frequently difficult military-to-civilian transition.” Cook pointed out that this film would also steer away “from any political message aimed at our government.” However, he is still basking in the historic election of Barak Obama.”I have high hopes for our next administration,” Cook said with a broad grin.