Whatever happened to military films where American GI’s are the good guys? You know…the movies where our guys are actually wearing the white hats?
You can find them at the GI Film Festival, which is held each May in Washington DC. The GI Film Festival is the first and only film festival in the country dedicated to the American military; for five days we bring Hollywood and the military together to screen movies that portray American GIs in a positive light.
The latest film to be announced in the GI Film Festival 2009 lineup, The Divided comes from Director Bennett Stein in his first feature debut. Bennett was born in Paris to a CIA agent mom and an anti-Soviet, nuke-counting spy father. When his parents returned stateside and began a publishing and production company, Bennett’s life changed forever and he knew he wanted to be in the entertainment industry. Bennett began his career as a personal assistant to celebrated actor William Hurt. After acting in over 25 plays and films, Bennett turned his sights to writing and directing.
In the Divided, Iraqi war hero Cott St. Clair returns home from the Middle East to discover his sister Katherine engaged to a charismatic anti-war radio talk show activist. Seeking only peace after a lifetime of fighting, Cott is soon caught up in clashes he never expected which force open long-held secrets of his military-intelligence past. These revelations unleash a wave of exotic characters into their lives, including an Israeli agent and a freedom-fighting exile, leading them all to reexamine their sense of America and the meaning of freedom. In the meanwhile, Cott must save his sister from the clutches of the anti-American liberal radical, make peace with his past and decide on his future as an American soldier on the shadowy front lines of the war on terror.
[youtube B0Oz7Yq6uac nolink]
In this movie, the left and right battle over the Iraqi war in a war of words, leaving only one victor. I don’t want to spoil the ending, however, once again we can be proud, that the US soldier is the good guy and comes out on top wearing the white hat.
If you think the GI Film Festival is important; if you want to see the GI Film Festival remain on the cultural landscape to counter the thousands of other film festivals that screen films denigrating our men and women in uniform, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. We depend on the generosity of those who believe in our mission to run the festival. No amount is too small! If you can’t attend this year’s event, please considering sponsoring a soldier, and your ticket will allow a soldier to view these great movies for free.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.