“The Wake Up Call” centers around veteran Dave Evans, who was a renowned prosthetist, humanitarian and peace activist. A double amputee himself, he dedicated his post-military career to transforming lives shattered by these seemingly never-ending, interchangeable wars. From Syrian refugees in a prosthetics clinic in Amman, Jordan, to the fallout of war in places like Iraq, Dave chose a life of service to others. According to “The Wake Up Call” filmmakers, Gilkey and Neudel, this documentary generates a fierce discussion about patriotism and war, especially in light of recent on-going world events. The characters have an irrefutable standing, and their experiences and hard-earned wisdom make for compelling viewing. If war is a choice, “The Wake Up Call” gives expert counsel about the decision to get involved.

 

Natick filmmakers Neudel and Gilkey spent seven years working on their documentary feature, “The Wake Up Call” about the folly and collateral damage of war. The film premiered as an “Official Selection” at the Boston International Film Festival, where it won the Feature Documentary award for “Best Content” and went on to win the “Audience Award” at the 2022 Newburyport Documentary Film Festival.

 

“The film is about Dave, as a vehicle through which to talk about the human cost of war,” said Neudel, who runs Natick-based Storyline Motion Pictures with Gilkey. “All the people he helped have in common that they are civilians or fought in wars. In Dave’s mind it didn’t matter who they were if they needed a leg. He would do it. He could never stop trying to heal the wounded.” Neudel and Gilkey have worked on four films together, including the critically acclaimed 2011 PBS documentary “Lives Worth Living,” about the disability civil rights movement. For two years they traveled with the documentary to Laos, Vietnam, Russia and Pakistan, as film envoys with the U.S. State Department’s cultural exchange program, American Film Showcase. They also co-curated America’s first Disability Rights Museum on Wheels.

 

We hope you will join us for “The Wake Up Call,” presented in partnership with First National Wealth Management. Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater St. in Damariscotta. Additional information is available at LincolnTheater.net or thepeacegallery.com. The Peace Gallery is located at 112 Main St., Damariscotta.