Unseen Scars

I was fortunate to be invited to attended the premier for this fantastic film. Wow! Just wow!

Unseen Scars is an enormously powerful portrayal of the mental issues many of our military veterans face after leaving service. It accurately captures the rawness of the emotional and physical effects of PTSD on both the individual and those around them...and provides a stark insight into the consequences.

The script, acting, production, and film score make Unseen Scars a must see and the message is helping to raise the profile of such an important issue.

I'm looking forward to the release of the full length version!

In a word, I found Unseen Scar utterly compelling (the themes explored but also the way it was directed and filmed). My favourite go-to search term for film is 'gritty British drama', so I was captivated from the start. I would add that the film was also very relatable from a therapist's perspective, having worked with both PTSD and suicidal ideation for a few decades now, including with a small number of soldiers. Dr. Kasia Wilk's underpinning philosophy around choice and autonomy shines through.

It met all of my high expectations, given all of the talented professionals involved in its creation.

Such an incredibly poignant film that is not only incredibly well written, graciously acted by Andrew Lee Potts and cinematically shot - it's an important film that should be watched by everyone.

Its importance serves as a right of passage by writer/director Carl Mackenzie, who's continued work to highlight the stories of not only those serving or have served but of male mental health which is so often not portrayed on screen.

Ideally, it would be great if more films like this were out in the world to educate men that they are not alone and to reach out when needed. We need to stop the stigma of asking for hellp as being a bad thing.

Unseen Scars is a profound exploration of the invisible wounds of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that many veterans carry long after their service ends. This short delivers a narrative that is both intimate and universal, shedding light on the massively overlooked psychological battles faced by returning servicemen.

What sets it apart is its authenticity. Mackenzie, drawing from personal experiences and extensive interviews with veterans and their families, crafts a script that resonates with genuine emotion and realism.

This was further validated at an exclusive premiere with veterans commenting on the authenticity. Not only this veterans opened up about their own experiences which I felt was very commendable. It also highlighted the lack of support our veterans receive when returning to civilian life.

The acting, production and direction throughout Unseen Scars is excellent. Every performance is authentic and incredibly believable. A must watch.

Thank you to all involved in making this important film.

This is a powerful film that does an admirable job of capturing some of the subtleties and less commented upon aspects of PTSD, and the reintegration challenges of returning combat veterans, in relation to themselves and their loved ones. Please know that this is a deeply personal project for the Director. In 2013, he lost a very dear friend-a combat veteran-to suicide. He then collaborated with fellow surviving friends, who are themselves combat veterans, that have struggled with mental health and reintegration challenges, as well as their partners, to develop a realistic narrative. To be clear, this film is not at all a biopic about the Director's departed friend, and it does not tell the story of any one veteran in particular. It was poignantly written to accurately reflect an amalgam of common but perhaps not adequately understood difficulties experienced by veterans, their families, and friends.