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Overview | Synopsis | Gay Interest | Personal review | Quotes | Pictures | Buy |
| Title | Soldier's girl | Year | 2003 | |||||||||
| Director | Frank Pierson | Writer | Ron Nyswaner | |||||||||
| Country | USA | Language | English | |||||||||
| Cast | Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Andre Braugher, Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls, Dan Petronijevic, Mike Realba | |||||||||||
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SOLDIER'S GIRL is the true story of Barry Winchell, a soldier at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who in 1999 fell in love with Calpernia Addams, a beautiful trans-gendered nightclub performer from Nashville. In the closed, rigid world of the army, their love affair created jealousy and misunderstanding among Barry's fellow soldiers. Rumors spread that Barry was gay. Eventually, on Fourth of July weekend, as Calpernia was winning Miss Tennessee Entertainer of the Year, Barry's Iago-like roommate Justin Fisher goaded another soldier into brutally murdering Barry.
When Barry Winchell (TROY GARITY) is assigned to the Airborne Infantry at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, he joins the "Screaming Eagles," a division with a prestigious history that includes the D-Day assault and Vietnam's infamous Hamburger Hill. The only section of the army that is not open to women, the infantry is a place where young men bond with the knowledge that someday they may be called upon to lay down their lives for one another.
Barry shares a room with Specialist Justin Fisher (SHAWN HATOSY), a self-styled "maniac" who is fascinated with guns, the Mafia and strip clubs. At first, Barry is intimidated by the rigors of the infantry and Justin's relentless hazing. But he improves in the field and comes to admire his roommate. Justin grows attached to Barry as well, discovering that he can confide in Barry his occasional frustrations and details of his psychiatric troubles.
On a Saturday night, Justin drags his posse, including Barry, to a popular Nashville nightclub that features trans-gendered performers dancing in flamboyant costumes and lip-synching to hot songs like Garbage's "Number One Crush." Barry is captivated by Calpernia Addams (LEE PACE), sultry and brazen on stage, but soft-spoken and ultra-feminine off stage. The details of Calpernia's gender status are vague, but Barry senses a warm, womanly essence, a welcome respite from the aggressive, macho world of the infantry. At once terrified and attracted, Barry begins to see Calpernia.
Calpernia tells Barry of her Appalachian childhood, her experiences as a combat medic in the Navy, and her desire -- from an early age -- to live as a woman. Only halfway through her transformation, Calpernia is saving money for sexual reassignment surgery.
Barry comes to accept this newfound element of his personality: namely, his taste for a relationship that is "outside of normal heterosexuality." He and Calpernia settle into a sweet, sexy romance. Eventually, Barry persuades Calpernia to abandon her plans for sex change surgery; he loves her as she is. For the first time, Calpernia feels the healing warmth of unconditional love.
But Justin Fisher is disturbed by this turn of events. Abusing pills and alcohol, Justin develops a passionate desire to control Barry and "reclaim" him for the infantry -- and perhaps, though he never states it -- for himself. Justin's obsession with Barry and his "mutant girlfriend" is fueled by his own, convoluted sexual history and identity.
Justin befriends and manipulates an immature, dim-witted solider named Calvin Glover, using him as a "weapon" in his campaign against Barry. Calvin, the product of Oklahoma youth homes and social services, professes to be a skinhead and a bank robber, although no one believes his tales. Barry feels the heat, but never complains about the relentless taunting and name-calling he experiences on base.
On July 4, 1999, Calpernia enters the "Miss Tennessee Entertainer of the Year" Pageant. Barry stays on post studying for an important exam. Calpernia is disappointed that Barry will not be in the audience to cheer her on, although he promises to be with her in spirit.
At Ft. Campbell, Barry, Justin, Calvin and others are having a rowdy, drunken bash. Calvin begins calling Barry a "homosexual." Barry tries to avoid a fight but ends up on top of Calvin, punching him. Calvin is humiliated to be beaten by a "faggot" and -- with Justin egging him on -- vows revenge.
Later that night, as Calpernia performs in the pageant to the Annie Lennox song "Cold," Justin puts a baseball bat into Calvin's hands and urges him to "mess up" Barry. Drunk, angry, and eager for Justin's approval, Calvin finally picks up the baseball bat and, as Barry is sleeping, bludgeons him to death. Justin, author of the murder, is found cradling Barry in his arms and begging him not to die.
Calpernia learns of the news when she returns home, after winning her pageant. Devastated, plagued by guilt, she believes that her one hope for love has been lost.
As she watches the ensuing court-martials, during which Justin Fisher and Calvin Glover are both found guilty (Glover getting life, Fisher three and a half years), Calpernia is alone once again. Eventually she returns to the stage, to the world she has known. But she does so, now, with a newfound sense of herself. Barry's love for her has made her see herself as a desirable, worthwhile woman, and though she is heartbroken, she is secure in the knowledge that she has been truly loved.
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Two people in love, with one a male and the other a male that is on his way to becoming a female. Its a story about true love and that there should be nothing to come between that. The Dont ask dont tell policy is absurd and this film helps brings that to light. |
I watched this movie tonight, and it has made such an impact. It's 2 am and I have the urge to call everyone i know and insist they watch this movie. Curagious, a wonderful love story, and a true look at the injustice of our system. A movie I would have to say... needed to be made.
Calpernia Addams, I wish I could personally thank. Allowing such a peek into a very personal experience. A very political stance and the desire to make a difference. To the Winchell family for continueing to teach and educate. I hope you never give up hope that you reach out to someone.
I would recomment Soldier's Girl to everyone and especially to the classroom. It's a must see. Continue to make a stance. Hate will not be tolerated.
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Awards:
Calpernia Addams: He wants to see me again! |
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