On Wednesday, March 4, at 11 a.m., the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Chatham County, GA, will show the documentary “Behind the Lines“, with a conversation afterward featuring director John B. Benitz and author Andrew Carroll. The film follows Carroll’s years of travel in search of wartime letters, documents he has gathered from across the country and around the world in an effort to preserve personal stories tied to war. Over the years, Carroll has traveled across the United States and to more than 40 countries gathering correspondence written by service members and civilians during times of conflict. His collection now includes roughly 200,000 previously unpublished letters and emails spanning every war in U.S. history.
The March 4 program will include a conversation with director and writer John B. Benitz and book author Andrew Carroll. The screening is presented in partnership with the Hindsight Film Festival, which runs March 4–8 in Savannah. The event at the museum is free and open to the public, though advance registration is requested at https://forms.gle/xt2U4x7BX5q3jiL78. Click HERE to watch the trailer of the documentary.
In a statement about the project, the filmmakers describe the personal weight carried by the letters and the reason behind bringing them to the screen: “Since 1998, Andrew Carroll has traveled to all 50 states and more than 40 countries, to seek out what he calls ‘the world’s great undiscovered literature.’ He has collected approximately 200,000 previously unpublished letters and emails written during wartime from every conflict in U.S. history. Having shared these letters with audiences around the country, I know their transformative, healing and educational qualities, and my hope is that this film will allow us to share their power with a wider audience and, importantly, create interest in the need to preserve these letters for history. For some, they have a therapeutic quality. For others, these letters provide a glimpse into the experience of a loved one who served or survived war. For others, they offer a richer understanding of what it means to go to war. We offer no easy answers and by design, the film strives to not be political…but it does challenge audiences to experience war through the eyes of those involved while we embark on Carroll’s journey around the world to collect these letters. The film, we hope, ultimately becomes a tribute to the immeasurable sacrifices made and an unforgettable reminder of war’s impact on those it touches. These are their stories—as only they can tell them.” For more information and to support the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, click on this link: www.mightyeighth.org.
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Amreetam Basu is a Content Manager at Vintage Aviation News with more than four years of experience in editorial roles. He began his career covering automobiles before moving into aviation, with a focus on aircraft history and design. His experience spans both news and feature content, with an emphasis on clear, well-researched reporting. When he is not reading about aircraft or editing stories, you will likely find him behind the camera or planning his next trip. For queries or story ideas, you can contact Amreetam at [email protected].
