PBS’s Independent Lens series, a reliable platform for documentaries that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle, is set to air Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen this Veterans Day. The film follows Anthony Marquez, a Marine Corps veteran (2007-2012), as he confronts survivor’s guilt by crafting battlefield crosses for the families of his fallen comrades. This isn’t your typical rah-rah military tribute. Instead, it looks to be a study in grief and the long, complicated road to some semblance of peace.
Marquez served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, an experience that clearly left deep scars. The documentary focuses on his mission to honor the 17 Marines from his unit killed in action. He hand-carves and personally delivers each cross to the Gold Star families, an act that seems as much for his own healing as for their comfort.
Directed by Manny Marquez and produced by Anthony Marquez himself, the film has a personal intimacy baked in. It will be interesting to see how that translates onscreen. Independent Lens has a decent track record of featuring thoughtful, well-crafted documentaries. So, there’s reason to believe Make Peace or Die might offer something genuinely affecting, a look at the impact of war beyond the battlefield.
Make Peace or Die: Honor the Fallen airs Monday, November 11, 2024, at 10/9c on PBS as part of Independent Lens’ 26th season.
