On November 8, ‘Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey’, swung open its doors to audiences, promising an intimate portrayal of America’s military combat chaplains. Director Rich Hull, in a call with Fox News, articulated the admiration he developed for these exceptional individuals throughout his four-year filmmaking journey. He admiringly spoke of their commitment to their duties, risking their lives without weapons while on the front lines.
The narrative is guided by the film’s co-director, Justin Roberts, a former chaplain himself who served in Afghanistan and found it challenging to readjust to civilian life. A significant part of the film revolves around Emil Kapaun, an Army chaplain who lost his life in a North Korea camp. Departing from the original plan not to make Kapaun a central theme, the film took an unexpected turn when his remains were discovered in 2021 and ceremoniously buried in his hometown Kansas.
The film, while tracing the Chaplain Corps history, also shares stories of the 419 chaplains who gallantly laid their lives while serving their country. An extraordinary aspect of the Chaplain Corps is its wide representation of all faiths, including Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Jewish chaplains. Hull believes that this could be an interesting draw for audiences as it exemplifies the daily practice of faith.
‘Fighting Spirit: A Combat Chaplains Journey’ is currently showing in theaters across the nation.
