NC State bringing “Hunting in Wartime” documentary to Raleigh

NC State University will be hosting a free one-­time screening of the documentary “Hunting in Wartime” at the Witherspoon Campus Cinema on Monday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. The film’s director, Samantha Farinella, will also be on hand to introduce the film and a special panel will hold a discussion and Q&A session following the showing.

“Hunting in Wartime” profiles Tlingit veterans from Hoonah, Alaska who saw combat during the Vietnam War. The veterans talk about surviving trauma, relating to Vietnamese civilians, readjusting to civilian life, and serving a government that has systematically oppressed native people. Their stories give an important human face to the combat soldier and show the lasting affects of war on individuals, families and “There are many films out today that profile veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” explains Samantha Farinella, the film’s producer and director. “‘Hunting In Wartime’ has the long­range perspective of how a soldier’s life was affected long after the war ended, giving us a glimpse into what present­day soldiers may confront in the future. The film portrays a stark reality of the human cost of war.”

The film has strong connections to NC State. For the past eight years teams of NC State students have visited Hoonah, an island community west of Juneau in southeast Alaska, each spring as part of the university’s Alternative Service Break program. The students work in the local public school, Head Start program, and at the Youth Center’s after school program. They also learn about Tlingit culture through lunches at the Senior Center, taking Tlingit language lessons and through discussions with some of the 750 residents who call the community home. Students from past teams have been privileged to hear stories and interact with several of the veterans featured in the film.

Sponsors for the event include: the Native American Student Association & Multicultural Student Affairs; Union Activities Board; Student Leadership & Education; Center for Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service; University Housing; NC State Counseling Center; and the Student Veterans Association.