Soldier's Girl (2003)

Well Deserved Praise

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This movie is a fantastic account of a true story that ends in an unfortunate tragedy. There are thousands of other stories out there but we rarely see them make it to film unless transgender characters are being portrayed as weirdos, perverts or victims of assault and murder. Being transgender isn't easy and takes a lot of courage because this is a very scary and uneducated world. Things will continue to be this way until we start painting a new image of transgender people One that shows them as people with courage; one that shows the human element. We are people to. We have feelings, loved Ines, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and lives just like everyone else. The only problem is, we are not yet allowed to live those lives to the fullest. Not until the walls of oppression and discrimination are broken down and we are allowed to coexist in this world with everyone else. Isn't it about time for us to be free as well?

Soldier's Girl is a very disheartening film. It should also be noted that it was directed by Frank Pierson, who wrote Cool Hand Luke, and Dog Day Afternoon.The film is about Barry Winchell, who upon recently joining an Army division in Tennessee is befriended by a fellow trainee named Justin. Justin then brings Barry to a drag-queen performance club where Barry is stunned by the beauty of Calpernia, a transgender female performer at the club.After some initial apprehension, Barry and Calpernia eventually become a couple. While Justin himself even seems to be sexually active with some of the other transgender females at the club himself, Justin then begins to spread rumors throughout the Army division that Barry is a homosexual. Justin socially engineers an entire scenario against Barry, eventually leading to a very unfortunate sequence of events. The fact that it is based on a true story gives it even more of an emotional impact.A things about the film is the acting of Troy Garity. He portrays Barry to be such a likable person. It becomes so easy to like Barry's character, which is what makes the the events that transpire so difficult to accept.Shawn Hatosy also does a solid job in his portrayal of Justin. Since Justin apparently was heavily medicated throughout the film, and claims to have had "ADHD", it is easy to see that he did the necessary research in order to portray Justin's character.Aside from being a very controversial film on its own, the film brings into question the "Dont ask, don't tell" policy. While the policy seems to have recently been abolished, the entire concept of hate crimes against sexual minorities is portrayed in the film. The thing that is particular though in this film, is that it portrays hate crimes against someone for simply being with a sexual minority.We should all remember the story of Barry Winchell. He did nothing wrong.

This is the story of a soldier, Barry Winchell, and his girlfriend, a trans gender showgirl named Calpernia Adams. Barry is a private soldier in the airborne infantry and kind of had a very masculine image among the group. Barry, who is not gay, has little personal conflict when deciding to be with Calpernia and his friends from the infantry especially Fisher cannot not accept the fact that he is in love with a man. This movie made me cry when I watched it. The acting is superb, and the characters are realistically complicated and not at all watered down. The relationship between Barry and Calperina is lovingly drawn, and I really felt their connection throughout the film. This is such a sad movie because Barry was basically killed for being in love and because of the wrong assumption and hatred from his bunkmates.

It has always amazed me how our country professes it's superiority over other nations by proclaiming itself the epicenter of freedom, but it's nearly always the last to endorse it. It's noble attributes are not automatic, as each isolated, maligned and vilified segment of society has to endure ridicule until a certain number of deaths have accumulated to grudgingly acknowledge what others already accept. This is one extraordinary and courageous story about Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) who dreamed of being a soldier and serve his country. Believing he could do so with pride and honor, became an elite soldier and part of the Armed Forces. However he quickly learns, despite the overwhelming power of the military, it's still terrifies leaders that a gay man could virtually destroy the mightiest nation on earth with a forbidden kiss. Taken from the private life, military court records and public accounts of Barry Winchell, the young man visits a night club frequented by cross dressers, where he is attracted to and eventually falls in love with Calpernia Addams. (Lee Pace) Also known as 'Scottie' to his friends, the two begin a deep and passionate affair which led Barry to believe he had found true love. Unfortunately, bigoted fellow soldiers Justin Fisher and Calvin Glover (Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls) become hate-filled adversaries of Barry and his lover and seek at first to torment and later to destroy their Homosexual relationship. What this film fails to accentuate is the ambivalent attitude of the military as it discovers to what length soldiers will go to destroy the personal choice of others. Touching and emotional, the film does allow some convincing interludes and compassionate notions between the two lovers. Indeed, their singular affair will at the very least give hope to other gays that eventually, the United States as well as the Military will accept the notion that there is more at stake than homophobic fear. ****