Missing in America
Encyclopedia
Missing in America is a 2005 drama film
, directed
, produced, and written by Gabrielle Savage Dockterman. It is based on a story by Ken Miller, a former Green Beret
who was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War
. The film debuted at the Seattle International Film Festival
in May 2005.
for 35 years, plagued with guilt over the loss of men under his command. His only interaction with other people is when he drives into town to sell firewood and buy supplies from Kate (played by Hamilton). His life is changed when he is visited by Henry, an ex-platoon member (played by Strathairn). Henry is dying of lung cancer caused by the exposure to Agent Orange
, and entrusts the care of his half-Vietnamese daughter Lenny to Jake.
Jake refuses, but Henry leaves in the night, leaving his daughter behind and giving Jake little choice but to look after her. Lenny proves troublesome for Jake, and interrupts his normal way of life. Over time however, Lenny encourages Jake to reach out to other Vietnam veterans who are living nearby in self-imposed exile.
Though, Lenny is brutally and accidentally killed when she steps into a trap set up by one of the Veterans that lived close by. Jake mourns over Lenny afterwards and learns to socialize with people again.
Tagline: It's never too late to come home.
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...
, directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, produced, and written by Gabrielle Savage Dockterman. It is based on a story by Ken Miller, a former Green Beret
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
who was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The film debuted at the Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
in May 2005.
Plot
Jake (played by Danny Glover), a reclusive Vietnam War veteran, has lived in a cabin in the woods of the Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
for 35 years, plagued with guilt over the loss of men under his command. His only interaction with other people is when he drives into town to sell firewood and buy supplies from Kate (played by Hamilton). His life is changed when he is visited by Henry, an ex-platoon member (played by Strathairn). Henry is dying of lung cancer caused by the exposure to Agent Orange
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
, and entrusts the care of his half-Vietnamese daughter Lenny to Jake.
Jake refuses, but Henry leaves in the night, leaving his daughter behind and giving Jake little choice but to look after her. Lenny proves troublesome for Jake, and interrupts his normal way of life. Over time however, Lenny encourages Jake to reach out to other Vietnam veterans who are living nearby in self-imposed exile.
Though, Lenny is brutally and accidentally killed when she steps into a trap set up by one of the Veterans that lived close by. Jake mourns over Lenny afterwards and learns to socialize with people again.
Tagline: It's never too late to come home.
Main cast
- Danny GloverDanny GloverDanny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise.-Early life:...
— Jake - Ron PerlmanRon PerlmanRonald N. "Ron" Perlman is an American television, film and voice over actor. He is known for having played Vincent in the TV series Beauty and the Beast , a Deathstroke figure known as Slade in the animated series Teen Titans, Clarence "Clay" Morrow in Sons of Anarchy, the comic book character...
— Red - Linda HamiltonLinda HamiltonLinda Carroll Hamilton is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Sarah Connor in The Terminator and its sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, for which she was nominated for two Golden Globes and an Emmy...
— Kate - Zoe WeizenbaumZoe WeizenbaumZoë Weizenbaum is an American child actor.-Life and career:Weizenbaum was born in Seattle, Washington to an American mother and a Chinese father. She grew up from the age of two in Amherst, Massachusetts. For years, African Dance was her primary love. She also enjoyed being part of Amherst's local...
— Lenny - David StrathairnDavid StrathairnDavid Russell Strathairn is an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for portraying journalist Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck...
— Henry