by Sandra Varner

“It’s a World War II film — a brutal mystery that deals with historic events and the stark reality of war. But it’s also a lyrical, mystical story of compassion and love.” — Spike Lee, director/ producer

Miracle at St. Anna is a gripping World War II epic that chronicles the story of four African American soldiers who are members of the U.S. Army as part of the all-black 92nd Division Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Tuscany, Italy.
    They experience the tragedy and triumph of war as they find themselves trapped behind enemy lines and separated from their unit after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.
    Directed by Spike Lee and based on a screenplay by James McBride, the author of the acclaimed novel of the same name, Miracle at St. Anna is produced by Lee, Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini. The film opens Sept. 26 from Touchstone Pictures.
    I spoke with Omar Benson Miller, one of the stars of Miracle at St. Anna, during the Toronto Film Festival:
Sandra Varner: One of the similarities I notice in wartime films is the “teen boy” sent off to war to do a man’s job, emotionally ill-equipped to take on the horrific challenges of combative engagement. In my opinion, this aspect alone punctuates the senselessness of war. What are your comments on this perspective?
Omar Benson Miller: “I couldn’t agree more. I think that one of the reasons we see the ‘young boys turning into men’ depiction so often is because at that stage in your life you are the most malleable, most vulnerable — mentally and emotionally — that you will be as a man. And, that is how you can be manipulated into doing things that may not be for your own best interest or even your country’s best interest. Basically they can pull the wool over your eyes at that age based on your inexperience, your innocence, your hunger and vitality. Whereas you may be physically nearing the prime of your life, emotionally and mentally your maturity levels aren’t where they will be, and I think that is prevalent when it comes to the government’s stance on who they try to recruit.
   “I think it is very interesting that they focus currently on urban areas when they do the recruiting. Too many times there’s a sense of loss in the neighborhoods and the foundation of urban America and a sense of confusion that is sometimes due to the lack of a father in the home. I think that confusion is used as a duping point by the government to get people to do what they want them to do instead of a democracy that is for the people and by the people. Now, if that means you want to go to war and fight, then that’s what it is and you’ve found a valiant cause and that’s what you want to do.”
    Miller will next be seen in The Express, the Ernie Davis story from Universal Pictures.
    I also spoke with the very cogent and dreamy-eyed Michael Ealy about his stand-out role in Lee’s Miracle:
Varner: You have quite a task as Bishop in this very definitive film. How did you prepare for the role?
Michael Ealy: “Physically, I went to the gym, lost some weight and obviously we had a boot camp to get the military part down. Emotionally, it was probably more trial and error. I don’t think you can really get yourself emotionally ready for a role like this. You can do all the research you want; nothing can prepare you for the actual shooting, certainly not reading a book. Nothing can prepare you for the actual circumstances.”
Varner: I am always struck by the innocence of the young enlistees portrayed in wartime films and the expectations of them. Was there a degree of naïveté about you at the start of this project that you overcame by the end of shooting the film?
Ealy: “I did. I felt like I grew, I matured. I had never done a war movie before this one, and I would never claim to know the magnitude of war unless I was actually in one. But to actually shoot those war scenes and to be shot at and have mortars blow up around you is not something for the weak. You realize the bravery involved. You’re either an adrenaline junkie with nothing to lose or you actually are a person of bravery who really does believe in their cause.”

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