Arcadia Library Hosts Virtual Screening of Film on Veterans Who Discover Healing Through Photography

ArcadiaPublic Library will host an online screening of the documentary, “Visions ofWarriors,” written, produced, and directed by Ming Lai and released by HumanistFilms. This moving and insightful film will be available online from Monday,July 20 through Saturday, Aug. 1. Call (626) 821-4364 for the link and passwordfor the screening and for information about an upcoming online paneldiscussion.

“Visions ofWarriors” enters the minds of four veterans from the Vietnam War era to theIraq War who are battling against mental illness — Mark Pinto, Homerina“Marina” Bond, Ari Sonnenberg, and Priscila “Peni” Bethel. They participate inthe groundbreaking Veteran Photo Recovery Project at the VA Menlo Park and useinnovative photography therapy to treat their moral injury, post-traumaticstress disorder, military sexual trauma, and other mental illnesses. Thedocumentary also profiles the Veteran Photo Recovery Project team — founder andnurse practitioner Susan Quaglietti, art therapist Jeff Stadler, clinicalsocial worker Ryan Gardner, and clinical psychologist Kristen McDonald. With anon-linear narrative structure to mirror the veterans’ shattered lives, thedocumentary alternates between the veterans and the mental health providers. Italso introduces other dynamic veterans who participated in the program.

Ultimately,“Visions of Warriors” is a universal story about the strength of the humanspirit.

ArcadiaPublic Library’s showing of this moving and insightful film is part of theCommunity Conversations with Veterans Initiative. Community Conversations withVeterans is a partnership between California Center for the Book and VeteransConnect at the Library. California Center for the Book is a program of the U.S.Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the LibraryServices and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

For more information, call (626) 821-4364, or visit the Arcadia Public Library’s website at ArcadiaCA.gov/library.

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