“I Wanted To Be A Man With A Gun'' is a feature length film constructed from the stories of three WWII veterans fighting on the European front. As they recount their experiences through the prism of their 90-year old selves, they reveal the shocking reality of combat that still weighs heavy in their lives. 

Each soldier represents a unique and sometimes disturbing perspective in their experience of war - and how they respond to the challenges of surviving combat. Harold Kozloff, a brazen Jewish soldier in the infantry, hated the Germans and killed them with impunity. On the surface, Harold killed without conscience, yet the brutality of WWII touched his life forever. 

Whether a war is justified or not, killing the enemy has a profound impact on  the soldier who is obligated to take the life of other human beings. This shadow  lingers. The long-term ramifications of killing affect his ability to be fully in touch  with his own deepest feelings.  I believe this film can awaken veterans and the rest of us to some understanding –  that they are not alone, past wars still impact their lives and those of their families  and communities. That means: the rest of us. 

“This film has a deep soul, is very much unlike any other World War Two documentary  I have ever seen.” --- Bruce Jenkins, former curator Harvard Film Archive

SF Veterans Film Festival-Best Feature

2023 United Nations Association Film Festival -Selected 2023

Director’s Statement -William Farley: "For half century, I made experimental films, documentaries, and feature-length narrative movies. I took on the liberties of being an artist and used film as the medium to investigate the world. I am inspired by a wide variety of subject matter - whatever captures my imagination and fuels my sense of story. I have lived a life of abandon. And I have been fortunate enough to have my films shown nationally and internationally. The list includes The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), Sundance Film Festival, New York Film Festival and many more. My work has received awards at the Mannheim International Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival among others. My films have also been broadcast on public television in the U.S. and abroad, reaching thousands of viewers. I am blessed to be able to do this work."

A post-discussion will be moderated by Jeff M. Giordano.

$6 all-day parking at St. Mary’s Square Garage