Repatriation

Really great soldier coming home story that's so much more than that. It felt raw and real thanks to the camera work and great actors. The performances never felt forced, and the indie style camera work really aided with helping the film feel real and not "hollywood". I enjoyed this movie a lot and appreciate all of the storytellers that were a part of this one.

As I watched "Repatriation" I kept thinking of a book review from the great Richard Price - so I will use it here and switch the name of the book for this little gem of a film, because I think it actually describes it quite well. It went something like this: "Repatriation sings, mugs, wisecracks, charms, buys you a drink, steals your wallet, and then takes you home to meet the folks." Repatriation has a lot of good things going for it and the filmmakers did a great job of keeping the film honest and truthful to the story. But I would like to highlight one of the reasons Repatriation works so well and it's such an honest and heartfelt piece - and that is no other than it's lead, Ryan Barton-Grimley. Mr. Barton-Grimley has the talent and skills to pull off a tour de force performance rarely seen in Indie Filmmaking. He could be as charming as he is menacing and does it in a way that seems completely organic, not forced or calculated. His performance in this film is top-notch! I highly recommend Repatriation. It is a film that you will enjoy watching but it will also linger in your mind as you wonder what went wrong.

Starts out as an amiable, humorous slice-of-life film about a veteran coming home and meeting up with old friends but has a clever trick up its sleeve that I don't want to give away. The script has real bite and conviction. Lead Ryan Barton-Grimley carries the movie like a pro and looks a bit like Sterling Hayden. Jes Mercer matches him with a very appealing performance as the girl who used to have a crush on him and struggles to process what he has become - or perhaps always was. The whole cast is naturalistic and professional. Mostly hand-held camera- work gives it an edgy, you-are-there feel. I was genuinely surprised by the ending. Definitely worth a look.

I saw this film at the Los Angeles CineFest. It's about a journey home for a soldier. I have friends who have come back from overseas duty. This film brilliantly captures how difficult that process of coming home can be.

It's a very honest film that doesn't pull punches or take the easy way out, which I really admired. I thoroughly believed the reality it portrayed. The acting, writing and directing are all excellent. It's definitely worth your time.

When soldiers come back home they usually enjoy some sense of relief, but unfortunately reality usually sets in, leaving them alone and in search of answers. This independent films portrays that so well, but it accomplishes it in just one day. The acting, cinematography, score and directing are all top notch. It has a high production value and I was astonished to learn that it was shot in the Midwest. This character driven story is one to see. Highly recommended!