Standing ovations aren't unusual at Sundance. But it's rare that the subject of one film publicly heaps praise on another.
After a screening of "American Blackout," an examination of the disenfranchisement of the black vote in American politics, a soldier profiled in another Sundance documentary, "The Ground Truth" made a gift of his dog tags.
Pfc Herold Noel walked down to the Holiday Village Cinema stage to offer his tags to Democratic Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. McKinney was an early critic of President Bush and was targeted for defeat in an election where Republicans crossed over in the primary and voted for her opponent. She was subsequently re-elected.
"Us soldiers support you any time. We got your back," Noel told McKinney as she accepted his heartfelt gift.
- Sean P. Means