Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story

Saw this many years ago! Very touching then and it's very touching now! Hopefully we've come a long way and this is still not happening. I was a teenager then and I thought it was so unfair to take away her rights all because she was lesbian !? She had worked hard and was dedicated in serving her country. Of course this movie was before the don't ask don't tell policy.

This TV movie co-produced by Barbra Streisand gained controversy because of a kiss between Glenn Close and Judy Davis. It's hard to know why since it's not the first representation of lesbianism on TV and the kiss itself looks pretty strained.

Director Jeff Bleckner presents Close as a real life Washington National Guard nurse who is discharged from the Army for `immoral conduct' after revealing her sexual orientation, although she argues that her relationship doesn't incorporate `conduct'. What we see is a lot of intense eye contact between Close and Davis as her artist girlfriend and a fair share of hugging, though Close tends to hug practically everyone she meets. Davis is presented as the ideal femme partner. She's supportive, she says all the right things, the family likes her and she is funny, particularly when she is outed `on prime time'.

The script by Alison Cross is tight and intelligent, thankfully focusing more on relationships than Cammermeyer's trial, and Bleckner allows the two actors to create a subtle interplay. Close has fun with the butch army stereotype and is moving when she confesses to her sons, her tears bursting forth.

Ten years after it was made, this film is more relevant than ever. Glenn Close is brilliant as Col. Cammermeyer.

This film could not have been more well-made. Technically it is sublime. The acting is perfect. The story is clearly told such that any viewer could understand Cammermeyer's situation. And the love story is touching and beautiful.

This film deserves to be seen by every American. It should be required viewing for all American military personnel. It puts a face on the greatest injustice ever inflicted by America's armed forces, an injustice that is still far from being eliminated. It is a story that needs to be told today and every day until Americans wake up and stand up for justice. America's gay soldiers have been abused and had their lives ruined by the US Armed Forces for far too long, even as gay soldiers serve in a far more heroic fashion than their straight counterparts.

It seems that it's much easier to get films about this subject in the US than here in Europe but surprisingly enough I managed to get the film (although with no subtitles..).

The film, which is based on a true story, is scary in everso many ways. One can wonder what kind of army system the US has, and condones, since such a story is possible. I mean, the most frightning is that it's a real story about an immensely skillful woman who've served the army for everso long and just for the fact that she is honest telling that she is a lesbian she is not only investigated in all possible way but also fired in the most humiliating way being placed in front of the military court having to defend her feelings!!

If this is not utterly grotesque then nothing is! The film also shows what a bureauctic system the US army seems to have and it's even shown as "normal". Think having to feel ashamed because of ones feelings; so badly that if effected her career and indeed her honour. A woman who'd done everything for her country, a well-respected woman by her peers and then just because of the fact that she shows out to be a lesbian everything is destroyed.

Glenn Close plays the role really convincing as she always does and applauses to her for "daring" to play such a role which definately isn't according to the taste of many Americans.

My partner and I have been watching a lot of these true movies lately, and this is a real gem. It illustrates how society was (and in some parts of the world still is) struggling with true tolerance towards all that is different and doesn't fit into a neat traditional box. The actors are all very convincing, and unless you are of the narrow-minded, intolerant persuasion, you will be rooting for Glenn Close's character throughout! It is beautifully shot, and not overly sentimental, yet very moving. With the current fuss about the Olympics in Russia, this film seems to be timeless and relevant even all those years later. Maybe some societies still need to catch up. If you get a chance to watch this, do!