Steven Spielberg: Why the US Army had to open a crisis line after the firing of Private Ryan

If there was only one thing to remember from Steven Spielberg’s feature film Saving Private Ryan, it would undoubtedly be its realism. Such realism that many veterans had to leave theaters during the famous landing scene, while others suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after seeing this five-Oscar classic.

In its own defense, the US Department of Veterans Affairs acted quite spectacularly in the days before the release in July 1998. The Army has actually set up a national hotline for veterans or their family members who may have been traumatized by scenes in the feature film.

At the end of the line, victims could talk to mental health professionals to help them deal with grief or post-traumatic stress disorder, said Joel Preston Smith of the Portland VA Medical Center. The comment was reported by APNews.

“I think the movie will strike a chord with a lot of people.”said Deborah Richter, a therapist and director of the Portland Vet Center, a counseling center for combat veterans.

“John Wayne Made a lot of movies exploring the WWII experience, but not as graphic as I think Saving Ryan would be.he continued. “It’s a very different perspective on pain, suffering and actual murder.”

“Seeing a movie like this is the ultimate trigger for post-traumatic experiences.”, concluded Deborah Richter, who believed that the Army’s telephone hotline was an ideal forum for finding help. Less than two weeks after its launch, the hotline received more than 170 calls.

Saving Private Ryan, especially directed by Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, is considered a war movie classic. Steven Spielberg’s work, which grossed more than $482 million worldwide, won five Oscars, including Best Director.

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