Soldier's Girl

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

A group of soldiers in the deep South take vengeance against one of their own when word circulates that he's become involved with a transgendered nightclub performer in this drama based on a true story. Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) was a young man with an educational disability who volunteered for the United States Army and found himself stationed in Tennessee, where he soon struck up a friendship with Justin Fisher (Shawn Hatosy), a high-strung fellow GI with a drug problem. One night with nothing to do, Winchell and Fisher tagged along with a group of soldiers who ended up taking in a drag show at a bar in Nashville. One of the performers on the bill that night was Calpernia Addams (Lee Pace), a transsexual and former combat medic in the Navy who was a veteran of the Gulf War before taking the first steps towards sexual reassignment. While Winchell, who was straight, was aware that Addams was at least partially still male, he found himself attracted to her for her intelligence and sensitivity, while she found herself similarly drawn to him. As Winchell and Addams' mutual attraction grew into a romance, the unstable Fisher found himself increasingly confused and angry with Winchell, and he struck back by spreading rumors that one of the men in their company was gay, with fingers soon pointing towards Winchell. Despite the Army's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the company's drill sergeant (Barclay Hope) took it upon himself to find and remove the gay soldier in his ranks, while the increasingly vicious Fisher aligned himself with Calvin Glover (Philip Eddolls), a young and narrow minded recruit eager to strike out with violence against those different from himself. Directed by veteran filmmaker Frank Pierson, Soldier's Girl premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
• Features:
  • cc Interviews with Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Shawn Hatosy, Calpernia Addams, and director Frank Pierson
  • Commentary track with director Frank Pierson, screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, Troy Garity, and Calpernia Addams
  • "Soldiers' Secrets": A closer look at the true story that inspired the movie
  • Filmographies: Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Shawn Hatosy, and director Frank Pierson
  • Lee Pace Make-up: A transgender transformation

AWARDS

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Teleivison Series - 2003 (Lee Pace)
•     Nominated Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television - 2003
•     Nominated Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made - 2003 (Troy Garity)

• Independent Spirit Awards

•     Nominated Best Actor - 2003 (Lee Pace)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 2003 (Troy Garity)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Troy Garity - Pvt. Barry Winchell
       Lee Pace - Calpernia Addams
       Andre Braugher - Sgt. Carlos Diaz
       Shawn Hatosy - Justin Fisher
       Philip Eddolls - Calvin Glover

• Director:

  Frank Pierson

• Producer:

  Doro Bachrach, Linda Gottlieb

• Screenwriter:

  Ron Nyswaner

• Cinematographer:

  Paul Sarossy

• Composer (Music Score):

  Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

• Editor:

  Katina Zinner

• Production Designer:

  Lindsey Hermer-Bell

• Art Director:

  Peter Emmink

• Co-producer:

  Ron Nyswaner

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