Flag of My Father

Horrible directing and a very cheap movie with bad acting. Although the pride and valor are well-represented, the plot is depressing and does not make much sense. It jumps to everything being fine one minute to chaos the next, with no real explanation. As a Soldier, I picked out quite a few mistakes in the movie, such as the wrong combat uniform in Iraq. I wanted to turn it off after about 30 minutes into the movie because it was dark and depressing...and there were comments in the movie that were a disgrace to American service men and women, such as mocking the Star Spangled Banner and saying "nurses aren't Soldiers." I feel like the director was not 100% sure about Army regulations or customs. It was hard to even tell if the main character was in the Army or Marines until they clarified it at the very end. Not a good movie...and definitely feel like it should have been directed and funded better.

A gripping, heartfelt story of courage and faith, Flag of My Father is the story of Cpt. Judith Rainier, well played by Gigi Erneta, an Army nurse who is suffering from horrific flashbacks due to her POW experiences in the Second Gulf War. To add to her difficulties, her half- brothers (led by John Schneider and Andrew Sensenig) harbor animosity toward her for being their dad's (William Devane) favorite child, due to their bond of being war veterans and Judith being his only daughter. These feelings surge to the surface after the sudden death of her father, when the family has to decide as to whom has the right to own their late father's flag and war medals. As Judith deals with both trying to reconcile herself with her brothers as well as coming to grips with her own PTSD, the brothers discover a stunning revelation and in the process will get another chance at forgiveness and redemption.

Every once in awhile you enter a film with preconceived notions, only to be surprised or even blind-sided at how good and well-done a film actually is. Flag of My Father is such a film, where the audience goes in and expects the usual well-intentioned but poorly constructed and acted low-budget "Christian" film, only to leave stunned by how well the story is presented and acted. It's a military based drama that gives a voice to our veterans, yet doesn't come off as being too preachy or get bogged down in political statements or sensationalistic elements. Instead it goes straight for issues of the heart, dealing with not only how a combat veteran deals with the horrors of war but the universal need of each to connect with family and how painful it is for those family bonds to be broken due to trite misunderstandings and jealousies. It also shows God's redemptive power and how he can heal those broken relationships. Gigi Erneta is sincere in her portrayal of a physically and emotionally wounded vet, enabling the audience to connect with and identify with her. John Schneider and Andrew Sensenig, as the lead brothers of Daniel and Ben, take what could have been totally unsympathetic caricatures and make them into real two-dimensional people who are misled by their pride, selfishness and false assumptions. Kent Jude Bernard is a standout as a fellow POW who is encouraged by Judith's unwavering hope and faith. And William Devane, in the brief but pivotal part of the Vietnam veteran father, shines and adds poignancy to his role; it's a reminder of how strong and underrated a character actor he is. Director and writer Rodney Ray, in his first full-length motion picture, shows real talent in knowing how to construct a powerful story and to execute it professionally within the confines of a limited budget and resources. In a genre often marked with poor quality and technical incompetency, he is clearly a talent to be reckoned with. It will be interesting to see his future offerings.

Flag of My Father is a great film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking in how it sheds light on the internal and external struggles of some returning vets (and those who don't understand them) as well as the process of healing through faith and forgiveness. If you want a patriotic film that you can enjoy with your entire family, or just a good, inspirational film in general, be sure to check this gem out today.

I parallel this story all too well as a 100% Service-Connected Disabled Desert Storm Veteran. My Father before me was a four-tour Vietnam Veteran who was ashamed of his heroism and hid his details from our family. He only began to share his stories in limited capacity with me in 2007 when I began inpatient treatment for PTSD when I started having flashbacks from my three Deployments. He shared his worst moments with me only because he knew I would "get it" and it would help in my healing. It amazingly did help me to begin the process. Both he and I would always get into it with my brother the family coward who dropped out of boot camp and has a disdain for the military. He has no sense of respect or honor for what we have done for him. I've learned you cannot change people, but you can keep people who are unchangeable away from you. I only allow positive people in my life who are loving. I count my blessings and my motto is: "Serve until it hurts...then serve some more". I recommend this movie to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For Veterans to heal and for the public to understand our sacrifices.

This is one of those movies that will sneak up on your emotions. If you don't shed a tear, you will at least have a lump in your throat before this movie is over. Jake (William Devane) passes away with 5 grown children. Judith (GiGi Erneta), the younger sister and Iraq veteran wishes to have the flag from her fathers funeral, but doesn't want to challenge her brothers as they discuss who is to get what part of the estate. Faith in the Lord during and after her military tour gets Judith through this hard time in her life. Her brothers, having not served in the military, did not have a grasp of her military experiences and could not understand her feelings until it was a little too late. Be ready for an unexpected twist at the end of the movie. I identified with Judith and Jake and their reluctance to share some of their war time experiences, there are some memories you share, some you take to your grave. As a Christian and a war veteran, I appreciated this movie on two levels, from the power that the Lord has over our lives and from the impact that the experience of a wartime environment has on our souls. One positive thing about this movie that I did notice was the lack of profane language and the absence of any nudity or sexual implications. This is a movie that I would recommend to anyone who would like to see good family entertainment with a meaningful message

How do adults and their children learn to honor the military? By watching films like "Flag of My Father", we get a glimpse of the enormous sacrifices that create both trauma and, if they are fortunate, depth of fullness and meaning in a soldier's life. Where would we, as a country, be without the millions of Americans, past and present, who have made such great personal sacrifices to keep us free? One of the things most Americans don't know about is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the deep damage and difficulty it can cause in these heroes. "Flag of My Father" gives you and enlightening yet gripping look, then goes farther to prove the hope for healing, healing not only from the ravages of war, but also from the emotional difficulty that can become family life. This is a great story that needed to be told. Everyone in America should see this movie.