Shelley French After seeing Lee Pace's performance in The Hobbit: DoS, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I decided to have a better look at other works he has previously been involved with. Soldier's Girl really stuck out to me the moment I read the synopsis.The movie is very powerful, almost soul-crushing yet stunningly beautiful, and the acting is all spot on. I was too young to know of these events as they happened, as well as being from the UK. It focuses on the relationship between Calpernia Addams and Barry Winchell, how their worlds become intertwined, and how their life dreams are realised and begin to knit together, before being tragically snatched away."Opening up to the makers of the film was cathartic, and their telling of the story is an absolutely beautiful tribute to the wonderful man Barry Winchell was. I am very proud of the team I got to know and the finished film." ~ Calpernia Addams I also love the focus on the military's stance on LGBT issues, and the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy (which ended around 2011). The messages within the movie are very thought provoking, and really made me feel sad at how little the human race has actually progressed over such a long period of time. Out-dated policies, a lack of education, closed-minds and stereotypes: all creating many heart-breaking stories and truly unnecessary issues such as this, and it just went on for far too long. It STILL goes on."Since DADT ended in 2011, persons who are openly homosexual and bisexual have been able to serve, but those who are transgender are still excluded as subject to a medical disqualification." ~ Wikipedia source.I really can't fault any of the acting, and both Troy Garity (Barry Winchell) and Shawn Hatosy (Justin Fisher) were both amazing in their roles. The transformation of Lee Pace into the character of Calpernia Addams is both subtle and stunning, and I feel he really did serve the role much justice. He managed to really tap into her character, and into her circumstances, and the results are truly wonderful and it makes the portrayal all the more devastating. I really wish that the film and crew had received more awards, and was much more well known, and it really SHOULD have a UK release! Calpernia Addams speaks about the movie and a little of the back-story briefly on her website, which I think is very important for everyone to read."I can only hope that no other person ever has to work so hard to justify their relationship with someone else, in the wake of a murder, to a public with mostly every wrong idea about them possible." ~ Calpernia Addams

Aron Lewis I definitely felt "Soldier's Girl". It reminds me in almost every way of the discrimination caused towards African American's at one point in time. Except, it's somehow more baffling that America didn't learn from its past mistakes and tried to bar an entire group of people, until very recently, who were interested in protecting their country like everyone else, from being able to express themselves freely in the army."Don't Ask Don't Tell" is a really unintelligent policy. The fact of the matter is, somewhere along the line, someone may find out that one of their dorm mates may not be heterosexual. Completely on accident. And once this happens, the amount of harassment and abuse they will face could be insurmountable. Especially when you realize there are no rules to stop this and no one to run to, because these homosexuals aren't even supposed to exist. When you think about it, it's sad, and in some cases, disturbing."Soldier's Girl" does a great job of showing the audience what can happen. There are accurate and powerful performances by the two leads and the supporting cast, and the movie is just long enough to get its point across without making you over-analyze it.Overall, this movie comes highly recommended. I think everyone should watch it at least once.

Gil_Rinion Soldier's Girl is a very touching story and it is made even more emotional because it is based on a true story. The acting in the film was very well done and it was very believable. It is a very well done love story rarely seen in Hollywood.The dramatic elements in the film are handled very well and you sometimes wonder how people can act the way they do. in fact the dramatic tension when Barry is being beaten is incredibly strong. I am usually not affect by violence but because of the situations and the reasons behind this attack coupled with the fact that the story is true cause me to be greatly moved.I would recommend this film to you if you like dramatic movies. this movie is definitely not for the faint of heart and is not a good uplifting movie. It is however incredibly good at getting its point across.

gradyharp SOLDIER'S GIRL was released in 2003, a landmark, brave film that stirred a lot of controversy as well as a lot of plaudits for the superb work of cinema that it was. The story was written by Ron Nyswander ('Philadelphia', 'The Painted Veil', 'Mrs. Soffel' etc) and the director was Frank Pierson, also aligned with many important films as both writer and director ('Dog Day Afternoon', 'Cool Hand Luke', 'A Star is Born', 'Truman', 'Citizen Cohn', 'Presumed Innocent', etc). Obviously made on a low budget, the corners were cut where they should have been, not on the quality of the cast or the impact of the story. It was and remains a brilliant film. Barry Winchell (Troy Garity) is a sensitive, quiet soldier who is manacled by a homophobic roommate Justin Fisher (Shawn Hatosy). Justin takes Barry to a nightclub where the performers are 'guys in drag' as a challenge to understand Barry's somewhat subdued nature. There Barry observes performer Calpernia Addams (Lee Pace) and despite the negative atmosphere Justin has created, Barry connects with Calpernia. Calpernia is working to get the money to have her final transgender surgery: the reason she works in the club is to make enough to pay the bills and save for her surgery. Barry and Calpernia become a couple despite all the cautions they fully see. Barry's fellow soldier's do not understand how Barry can be attached to a 'freak' and despite Barry's love for Calpernia and Calpernia's protective outlook for Barry, the relationship is tested daily. Barry is ostracized by his soldier 'friends' and in a brutally honest scene, Barry is beaten to death by Fisher. How Calpernia endures and the fate of the perpetrators is decided leads to the ending of the film. In performances as real and powerful as those of Lee Pace and Troy Garity and yes, even Shawn Hatosy, the spectrum of the many permutations of the film are brilliantly delivered. All are excellent, but the extraordinary work by Lee Pace (who has since become a very important actor in many films) deserves as many awards as possible. The story is tough but exceptionally important, especially the manner in which it reveals the psychosocial and physical makeup of transgender people. The film is at once a stunning love story as well as an exposé of man's inhumanity to man and the rigid impact of the military still bound by ancient and crude rules of behavior. This is a film to see repeatedly for many reasons, not the least of which is that it has become a banner film for transgender citizens. It is based on a true story, a fact that makes it all the more painful to see. Grady Harp