"Behind Bayonets and Barbed Wire" a documentary film about World War II

Today we salute and honor all the men and women that served our country on this Veterans Day. Thank you for serving our country and protect our freedom. Freedom is never free because it comes with responsibilities.

"History will not perish with the passing of veterans. This film frame-freezes historical events, telling unknown stories of historical facts, letting the past speak truthfully to the future." I attended the screening last Sunday, november 6 at the Linwood Dunn Theater. It wasn't an easy feeling to watch some of the footage myself, but it was the warmth and kindness among people regardless of race during the war time, renew my faith of humanity, it shine through with the small and kind gesture of giving of a few cucumbers by the Chinese Mr. Li Lishui, in risking his safety to help the American soldiers take courage. I find it fitting as our nation play tribute to all those served our country today.

The production is co-directed by Richard L. Anderson (some of his credit included winning an Oscar-Raiders of the Lost Ark, an Emmy-Amazing Stories, and five Golden Reel Awards) and Shen Haofang. “Behind Bayonets and Barbed Wire” tell the life of American prisoners of war in the 1942, about 88,000 American and Filipino surrendered after the troop failed to defense the Philippines. The film reveals not only the cruelty of war, the savage Japanese prison camp in the city of Mukden now named Shenyang in Manchuria China.

"The film open with General Wainwright's decision to surrender in order to save the lives of American soldiers, by sacrificing his own dignity as a military commander, an act he himself thought was a letdown to the people. But the American people regraded him as a hero. This show American people's cherishing honoring of life, in striking contrast to the Japanese invaders' utter disrespect towards life and the touring of POWs. The reflection on humanism is also demonstrated through the kindness and upright of Chinese people in the film."

The opportunity to see and hear only a hand full of survivors in their 90th tell the tales of their daily struggle touched me; As the director stated "the tenacity of life in great adversity is vividly depicted in scenes such as POWs drawing cartoons, singing and making jokes at night. This is man's everlasting quest for survival and happiness".

I sense their pride and resilient, they are not consumed by anger or hatred, and still view things with a positive perspective. “I see the good and bad in all of them,” said one of the survivor, "everyone has a role and a job to do at the camp."

"Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him." Wayne Dyer. God blessed America and our next presidency.

The U.S. premiere of the feature documentary film is showing at Laemmle's Music Hall T#3 located at 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hill, CA 90211 from November 11, 2016 at 7:30 PM. Director Richard Anderson will be there. The film will run through November 17, 2016.