A SPECIAL COMMUNITY SCREENING OF MIND ZONE: THERAPISTS BEHIND THE FRONT LINES

--A rarely seen glimpse of psychology in war zones

July 19, 2012, 7 p.m.

Northwest Film Center welcomes Jan Haaken (QUEENS OF HEART, GUILTY EXCEPT FOR INSANITY) for a work-in-progress screening of her new film about the work of clinicians that deploy with Army combat stress control units in Afghanistan. Their mission is to help protect soldiers from battle fatigue and post-traumatic stress—while keeping them battle-ready. Although the team is equipped with a wide arsenal of psychological techniques, the reality of balancing soldiers’ interests with the Army’s needs confronts sobering front-line realities and raises disturbing questions about the psychological costs of warfare. (50 mins.)

The event is an opportunity for community members and supporters to comment on the production before final completion. Discussion with director follows the screening.

See Mind Zone: Therapists Behind the Front Lines as part of the Film Center's Northwest Tracking Series, which showcases the work of independent filmmakers living and working in the Northwest—Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

The Northwest Film Center is a regional media arts resource offering a variety of exhibition and education programs to the residents of the Northwest. The Center's Whitsell Auditorium screens a program of foreign, classic, experimental, and independent works year-round. For more information, visit www.nwfilm.org. 

Northwest Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium Portland Art Museum—1219 SW Park Avenue

Admission: $9 General; $8 Students, Seniors

Advance tickets: http://www.nwfilm.org/screenings/41/429/#2486

BACKGROUND:  Dr. Jan Haaken, professor emeritus of psychology at Portland State University, a clinical psychologist and documentary filmmaker, followed the 113th Combat Stress Control Unit through their pre-deployment training at Fort Lewis-McChord before embedding with the unit as they deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in summer 2011.  Filming included clinicians working at the Portland VA Medical Center and resiliency training through the Oregon Army National Guard. 

For further information, go to www.mindzonemovie.com.
Contact Jan Haaken at haakenj@pdx.edu, phone 503.657.1601