Les galons du silence

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.

I seem to watch at least bits of this film every time it turns up (which it does surprisingly often). The title is a turnoff, but the film itself is excellent. Forget that it was "made for TV, based on a true story". (Actually those movies are some of the best.) It stars Glenn Close and Judy Davis as the gay lovers and they are both believable and appealing, especially Close, who is just wonderful as the army nurse who fights for her rights. The script and direction are fine. Give it a go.

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.

I saw this years ago, and recently found a copy of the video in a used/secondhand video store.

A remarkable drama, with a fine performance by Glenn Close, this is a tightly woven and deeply touching & affecting film.

Kudos.

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.