Often when there is the concept of “a war” floating around in the public consciousness, it takes on a nebulous and unreal quality — like an oblique nightmare everyone knows they'll wake up from in the morning. If the bombs haven't landed in the living room next to the anesthetizing television, it's like it isn't really happening. In a way, a film about the war can be that bomb: landing directly on your prefrontal cortex to make you really see what's going on. This year's documentary This Is Where We Take Our Stand tells the story of the March 2008 gathering in Washington, D.C., of 250 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and active-duty soldiers — “Winter Soldiers,” as they are known — to testify about what they saw, what it means, and how deep the wounds really go. A Q&A session with the filmmakers (Bestor Cram, Mike Majoros and David Zeiger) follows the screening — but, given the topic, there will definitely be more Q than A. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Wstwd.; Tues., Nov. 22, 7 p.m., free. (310) 443-7000, hammer.ucla.edu

Tue., Nov. 22, 7 p.m., 2011

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