A Marine Story
Encyclopedia
A Marine Story is a 2010 drama film
written and directed by Ned Farr about the United States military's "Don't ask, don't tell
" policy on gay
, lesbian
and bisexual people serving in the armed forces
.
, beginning 30 May 2009. Ned Farr, and his real-life wife Dreya Weber
, first developed the story as original programming for the here! network; however the budget was cancelled for economic reasons, and the two continued with the project independently. The film premiered at the Frameline Film Festival
on 19 June 2010.
) unexpectedly returns home from the Iraq war and is quickly recruited to help Saffron (Paris P. Pickard), a troubled teen prepare for boot camp
,. However, when the true reasons for the Alexandra's return become known, it threatens the future for both of them.
praised the film, writing "[f]or their first film since winning the 2006 Outfest Audience Award for The Gymnast, writer-director Ned Farr and his wife, actress Dreya Weber, have made a huge artistic leap forward", and he admired "the fascinating, subtle beauty of Weber's portrayal of a woman who's been holding herself within for so long that she can barely breathe."
David Wiegand of San Francisco Chronicle
wrote of the military policy of 'Don't ask, don't tell
' being predominant at the Frameline festival in 2010, with "Marine Story being one of the winners, regardless of what happens with the official U.S. policy toward gays in the military." He shared that "[t]his film does not go where you might think it will go because it's so credibly written, acted and directed."
Dennis Harvey of Variety
wrote "Despite the rather bleak setting and content, A Marine Story has tough-love humor and affection for its characters, who become very likable as things proceed. A violent blast of climactic meth-lab drama works well, as does a poignant, reserved coda. Through it all, Weber (the helmer's spouse and star of his prior feature, The Gymnast) is first-rate, and other cast members are assured; ditto the modest but expert assembly."
Gary M. Kramer of Philadelphia Gay News
wrote "One surefire highlight at QFest this year is lesbian centerpiece selection A Marine Story, written and directed by Ned Farr and starring Dreya Weber. (The pair collaborated on The Gymnast a few years back.) This excellent character study has Alexandra (Weber) returning home after an honorable discharge from the Marines. Caught in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” crossfire, Alexandra is now re-evaluating her life. Her efforts, which include drinking too much and reflecting on her expulsion, also involve exploring a new relationship and training Saffron (Paris Pickard), a troubled girl, for the military. A Marine Story is consistently smart and engrossing, and Weber is again outstanding in the title role."
Sophia Hoffman of Velvet Park Media wrote "There have always been films about soldiers returning from war. Prodigal sons returning to their hometowns as patriotic heroes, usually with darkness inside them, scars from their time in combat lurking beneath the surface. It is rare to encounter a film about female soldier returning from war and rarer still that she is returning not only from Iraq but also from an on-going battle with an archaic and close-minded policy. A Marine’s Story highlights not only the difficulties of a female soldier returning from war but that of a gay soldier, who despite her commitment to and love for her country, is discharged from service because of her sexual orientation."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by Ned Farr about the United States military's "Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy on gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and bisexual people serving in the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
.
Production
A Marine Story was filmed in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, beginning 30 May 2009. Ned Farr, and his real-life wife Dreya Weber
Dreya Weber
Dreya Weber is an American actress, producer and aerialist.She was born in Bloomington, Indiana, and attended Hunter College in New York.She performed aerial silks at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City....
, first developed the story as original programming for the here! network; however the budget was cancelled for economic reasons, and the two continued with the project independently. The film premiered at the Frameline Film Festival
Frameline Film Festival
Frameline is a nonprofit media arts organization that produces the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, the oldest film festival devoted to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender programming currently in existence...
on 19 June 2010.
Plot
Alexandra Everett, a decorated Marine officer (Dreya WeberDreya Weber
Dreya Weber is an American actress, producer and aerialist.She was born in Bloomington, Indiana, and attended Hunter College in New York.She performed aerial silks at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City....
) unexpectedly returns home from the Iraq war and is quickly recruited to help Saffron (Paris P. Pickard), a troubled teen prepare for boot camp
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
,. However, when the true reasons for the Alexandra's return become known, it threatens the future for both of them.
Partial cast
- Dreya WeberDreya WeberDreya Weber is an American actress, producer and aerialist.She was born in Bloomington, Indiana, and attended Hunter College in New York.She performed aerial silks at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City....
as Alexandra Everett - Paris P. Pickard as Saffron
- Christine Mourad as Holly
- Rob Beddall as Charlie
- Anthony Michael Jones as Leo
- Jason WilliamsJason WilliamsJason Williams is the name of:*Jason Williams , NBA basketball player from the University of Florida*Jay Williams , basketball player from Duke University...
as Turk - Deacon Conroy as Burner
- John Lee Ames as Dale
- Brad Light as Stenny
- Ned Mochel as Bill
- Jessica M. Bair as Lesbian Kissing on Dance Floor
- Gregg Daniel as Sheriff
- Alice Rievel as Nona
- Troy Rastash as Joe
Critical response
Chuck Wilson and Ernest Hardy of LA WeeklyLA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
praised the film, writing "[f]or their first film since winning the 2006 Outfest Audience Award for The Gymnast, writer-director Ned Farr and his wife, actress Dreya Weber, have made a huge artistic leap forward", and he admired "the fascinating, subtle beauty of Weber's portrayal of a woman who's been holding herself within for so long that she can barely breathe."
David Wiegand of San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
wrote of the military policy of 'Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
' being predominant at the Frameline festival in 2010, with "Marine Story being one of the winners, regardless of what happens with the official U.S. policy toward gays in the military." He shared that "[t]his film does not go where you might think it will go because it's so credibly written, acted and directed."
Dennis Harvey of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
wrote "Despite the rather bleak setting and content, A Marine Story has tough-love humor and affection for its characters, who become very likable as things proceed. A violent blast of climactic meth-lab drama works well, as does a poignant, reserved coda. Through it all, Weber (the helmer's spouse and star of his prior feature, The Gymnast) is first-rate, and other cast members are assured; ditto the modest but expert assembly."
Gary M. Kramer of Philadelphia Gay News
Philadelphia Gay News
Philadelphia Gay News is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper in the Philadelphia area. The publication was founded in 1976 by Mark Segal, who was inspired by activist Frank Kameny when they met in 1970...
wrote "One surefire highlight at QFest this year is lesbian centerpiece selection A Marine Story, written and directed by Ned Farr and starring Dreya Weber. (The pair collaborated on The Gymnast a few years back.) This excellent character study has Alexandra (Weber) returning home after an honorable discharge from the Marines. Caught in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” crossfire, Alexandra is now re-evaluating her life. Her efforts, which include drinking too much and reflecting on her expulsion, also involve exploring a new relationship and training Saffron (Paris Pickard), a troubled girl, for the military. A Marine Story is consistently smart and engrossing, and Weber is again outstanding in the title role."
Sophia Hoffman of Velvet Park Media wrote "There have always been films about soldiers returning from war. Prodigal sons returning to their hometowns as patriotic heroes, usually with darkness inside them, scars from their time in combat lurking beneath the surface. It is rare to encounter a film about female soldier returning from war and rarer still that she is returning not only from Iraq but also from an on-going battle with an archaic and close-minded policy. A Marine’s Story highlights not only the difficulties of a female soldier returning from war but that of a gay soldier, who despite her commitment to and love for her country, is discharged from service because of her sexual orientation."
Awards and nominations
- 2010, Won "Audience Award for Outstandng Dramatic Feature, OutfestOutfestOutfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
- 2010, Won 'Grand Jury Award for Outstandng Dramatic Feature, OutfestOutfestOutfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
- 2010, Won 'Outstanding Actress in a Feature' for Dreya Weber, OutfestOutfestOutfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
- 2010, Won 'Grand Jury Prize, Colorado Film Festival
- 2010, Won 'Screenwriting award - Feature', Colorado Film Festival