| Director | Michael Collins |
|---|---|
| Genre | adventure film, documentary film, drama film, war film |
| Runtime | 110 min |
| Country | United States |
Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson are two troubled veterans of the Iraq War. Tom, haunted by his experiences in Iraq, struggles to find peace within himself. He comes from a family with a strong military background, and the scars of war have left him feeling disconnected and searching for healing. Anthony also battles inner demons and alienates those around him. He feels let down by the Veteran Affairs system, which fails to adequately address the complexities of veterans' struggles.
The two veterans decide to walk from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Los Angeles, California – over 2,700 miles, taking 155 days – in an attempt to find purpose, meaning, and healing and to cope with the "moral injury" caused by their actions during the war. As they set out on their arduous journey, the initial days prove difficult, with physical and emotional challenges taking a toll. As they progress, the support from fellow veterans and well-wishers along the way keeps them going.
Throughout the trek, Tom and Anthony engage in deep and honest conversations, sharing their experiences and grappling with the question of how a just God could allow such horrors in the world. The documentary intersperses their current journey with footage of war atrocities from their time in Iraq.
Amid the vast desert landscape, they meet a Native American veteran, who offers the two spiritual advice and provides an opportunity for an exchange of perspectives on war and its aftermath, and Father Thomas Keating, a 93-year-old Trappist monk who has counseled veterans since World War II.
As they finally reach the water at the end of Santa Monica Boulevard, joined by a combat mate of Tom's, Anthony expresses a restored faith in humanity, with the journey having opened his heart and mind to some level of hope and connection with people. On the other hand, Tom remains realistic about the trip's value, acknowledging its role in raising awareness about veterans' struggles but recognizing that it hasn't entirely "fixed" him.