The Way We Get By

Posted July 21, 2009, 12:22 pm in Movies
Credit Katy Widrick

"My life don't mean a hell of a lot to me, but if I can make it mean something to somebody else, that's my endeavor." The teary words of a man who has given so much to his country, and yet wants to give more -- this statement sums up the plot of a new documentary called "The Way We Get By." The movie is making big waves all across America, with the touching story of a group of senior citizens in Maine who gather every day to offer thanks and encouragement to American troops leaving for and returning from Iraq. Set in Bangor, Maine, the story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

The three main characters in the film have greeted nearly one million U.S. troops. They are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Take a look at the trailer, and then read on for more on why this story is getting such great reviews and making so many fans:

The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.

"The Way We Get By" is not just about the War in Iraq or the soldiers who turn their lives over to protect ours. It's not just about the families who are saying goodbye, or the politics involved with battle. At the heart of the story is a disturbing theme: Our culture casts people aside as they get older.

The film focuses on three main characters -- 75-year-old grandmother Joan Gaudet, who faces personal hardship as her granddaughter is deployed to Iraq; 74-year-old Jerry Mundy, who is riddled with personal problems, including the death of a close friend, and 87-year-old Bill Knight, who is battling cancer and contemplating his own death. What unites the three? A desire to reach out to soldiers and strangers.

It's also a personal story for director Aron Gaudet, son of Joan Gaudet. "Witnessing firsthand how her life changed in such positive ways, while at the same time touching the lives of troops from all over the country, convinced me this was a story that could inspire people," says Gaudet.

"The Way We Get By" has won several awards, including the Special Jury Award at the SXSW Film Festival, and Best Documentary at the Phoenix, Atlanta, Newport and Little Rock Film Festivals.

Click here to watch other videos about the making of the film, and to find out if it's screening in your area.

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