Product Description

BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF ONE WOMAN'S FIGHT AGAINST THEMILITARY'S DISCRIMINATORY POLICY, THIS IS BOTH AN INSPIRATIONAL TALE OF COURAGE & CONVICTION & A TOUCHING & BEAUTIFUL LOVESTORY.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24970 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 91 minutes

Amazon.com
Glenn Close won an Emmy for her portrayal of Margarethe Cammermeyer in this 1995 made-for-television film. An army medical officer in line for a career promotion during the first Bush Administration, but suddenly faced discharge proceedings after admitting to being a lesbian, the real-life Cammermeyer became a focus of national attention on the issue of gays in the military. This sensitive production focuses on Cammermeyer's decision to fight institutional bigotry and the way her family and that of her longtime partner, Diane Divelbess (Judy Davis, who also won an Emmy), rally to support these good people. The script by Alison Cross captures the sad irony of doing everything right--serving one's country, taking care of the people in one's life--yet still being treated like a pariah for entirely irrational reasons. A bit of dismissible controversy arose about a discreet kiss between the principals, but for the most part this film is designed to win over the hearts and minds of a broad audience with its sheer humanity. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Conduct Unbecoming... not
It is to the US Military's everlasting shame that they saw fit to persecute and expel a true decorated American war hero. War hero? Well what would you call an Army Nurse (24th Evac., Long Binh) who worked tirelessly to save the lives of teenage soldiers in an insanely busy surgical unit, where the word "Incoming" could mean more than the next influx of wounded.

The movie understatedly captures how Cammermeyer (Bronze Star)and her nursing staff, and their Red Cross sisters (the Red Cross women still have no Vet status) risked their lives on a daily basis, never knowing when the next mortar round or 122mm rocket would slam into their Evac hospitals or MUSTs, or as with the 6th Convalescent Center at Cam Ranh Bay, when the VC sappers might attack directly.

As a reality check, the first member of the Army Nurse Corps to be killed by direct enemy action was 1 / L Sharon Ann Lane, who died when a Russsian-made 8 inch diameter rocket struck Ward 4 of the 312th Evac at Chu Lai.

8 Army Nurses died in Vietnam.

That a true blue American woman, like Cammermeyer, who had given so much to so many should be driven out of the service that she loved because of something so pathetic as her orientation is perhaps the greatest indictment of a system that is full of double standards.

Close and Davis were simply magnificent, and the only way in which this movie goes out to shock is by accurately telling this true tale of unimaginable injustice. The only obscenity lay in the outcome of the hearings.

There have always been (...) in the military. Always. And there always will be. I was not one of them. I just don't like it when the bad guys win.

There's a special place in Heaven for the women who served in Nam. All 15,000 of them. Vets every one.

Courage knows no race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

Col. Cammermeyer is presently researching a Don't Ask, Don't Tell project. Best of luck ma'am.

An Excellent Story
Ms. Close IS Grethe in this movie - she does an excellent job of portraying her! I still cry when I see this movie. Thank you, Grethe, Ms. Close, Ms. Streisand, and everyone who came together to tell this story. Please educate yourself and others. Education is the key which unlocks closed minds.

Honest, touching portrayal of lesbians.
Some of the movies I have seen depicting lesbians are sometimes a little difficult to relate to because being "a lesbian" is completely what the film is about. This story is different where what is unfolded is a story about people. Not just the two women who have a loving relationship with each other, but their families, the support and understanding that their family offers. The fears that are real also are portrayed very honestly; Fears of being rejected, fears of losing everything. Working hard, loving your family, loving your life, really making a difference in people's lives and enjoying your work brings respect and admiration to individuals who have these attributes. This story shows, how none of that matters to the Army and some close-minded folks. The hurt that results from such homophobia made me cry as well as the struggles and triumps. I could do nothing but think of this story for days.

This movie is for everyone. Not just gays and lesbians. Not just for family and friends of gays and lesbians. It is a ground breaking movie with love, honesty, and understanding being the main motivation for characters in this story.