Watch The Way We Get By

The Way We Get By is a poignant and heartfelt documentary film that explores the lives of three senior citizen volunteers who welcome returning troops at a military airport in Maine. The film, released in 2009, is directed by Aron Gaudet, and it offers an intimate look into the lives of the volunteers, Joan Gaudet, William Knight, and Gerald Mundy.

The movie begins by introducing Joan Gaudet, one of the volunteers, who has been greeting soldiers for over five years. Joan is a warm and cheerful person who has overcome breast cancer and other personal challenges. Despite her age, she looks forward to meeting troops and seeing them off on their journeys. As the film progresses, we see Joan's work expand, acknowledging her as a valuable and reliable asset to the organisation.

The film also profiles William Knight, a World War II veteran who has been welcoming soldiers for over four years in the military airport. At the beginning of the movie, we see William's struggle to manage and recover from a bout of depression. But soon enough, his work at the airport takes over his life, and it becomes his sole purpose for living. William's story is a powerful example of how one can find purpose and joy in giving back to others.

The third volunteer, Gerald Mundy, is portrayed as a loner, but his dedication and commitment to welcoming troops are unparalleled. Gerald's story is perhaps the most compelling of the three volunteers, as we see his personal history and how it ties in with his devotion to the soldiers he greets. His work at the airport becomes a lifeline for him as well, bringing him out of his shell and showcasing the beauty and importance of community in one's life.

Throughout the film, the three volunteers' lives intersect through their shared involvement in greeting the returning troops. The airport becomes a central point of connection for them, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and offering a space for community building. We see the volunteers' commitment and emotions as they see off troops who have just returned from missions and embark on journeys to their loved ones. As they form connections with these individuals who have fought for their country, the volunteers find solace in their own struggles and their work at the airport.

One of the most heart-wrenching parts of the movie occurs when the volunteers share their own experiences with loss and the trauma of war. Their personal stories range from losing siblings in Vietnam to seeing loved ones go through the trauma of serving in Iraq. These revelations help humanize the volunteers, showing their own struggles with trauma while reminding us of the toll war has on our society as a whole.

The Way We Get By is a beautifully shot film that does an excellent job of capturing the emotions of the volunteers as they welcome soldiers. The film's cinematography provides a sense of humanity and warmth that is often missing from documentaries about war or military life. The soundtrack is also exquisite, further amplifying the emotions of the film's subjects.

In conclusion, The Way We Get By is a touching reminder of the power of community and the role volunteers can play. It showcases not only the value of welcoming returning troops, but also the impact such work can have on the lives of the volunteers themselves. The film's central message is that by giving back to others, people can find renewed purpose and joy in their own lives. It is truly an inspiring documentary that deserves to be seen by a wide audience.

The Way We Get By is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 67.