I was recently sent a link to Taking Chance, a new film by HBO that premieres Saturday February 21, 8PM. The film is based on a true story about Lieutenant Colonel Michael Strobl, a 17 year veteran of the USMC who volunteers to escort the remains of a 19 year old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Here is an excerpt from the synopsis of Taking Chance:
Witnessing the spontaneous outpouring of support and respect for the fallen Marine – from the groundskeepers he passed along the road to the cargo handlers at the airport – Strobl was moved to capture the experience in his personal journal. His first-person account, which began as an official trip report, gives an insight into the military’s policy of providing a uniformed escort for all casualties. The story became an Internet phenomenon when it was widely circulated throughout the military community and eventually reached the mainstream media.
‘Taking Chance’ chronicles one of the silent, virtually unseen journeys that takes place every day across the country, bearing witness to the fallen and all those who, literally and figuratively, carry them home. A uniquely non-political film about the war in Iraq, the film pays tribute to all of the men and women who have given their lives in military service as well as their families.
Taking Chance was also an Official Selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. This looks like an excellent movie and a heartwarming story. Unfortunately, I don’t have HBO, so I will have to check with my library to see if they get it in, or check with Netflix to see if they carry it after it becomes available.
