FORT BLISS
US, 2014, 116 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Monaghan, Ron Livingston, Pablo Schreiber, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Oakes Fegley, John Savage, Freddy Rodriguez, Dash Mihok, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Manolo Cardona.
Directed by Claudia Myers.
Fort Bliss is a film about American presence in Afghanistan, but with a difference. There have been many serious films, quite a number of satiric comedies.
This film focuses on a medical Staff Sergeant, Maggie Swan, played with some intensity by Michelle Monaghan. Almost immediately the audience sees a patrol, and assault, Maggie having to exercise her medical skills and succeeding. However, she is on her way back home after 15 months, returning to her home in Texas to her five-year-old son.
The special perspective of this film is on women serving in Afghanistan, especially mothers, expectations of them to be like the men in their ability to move and move around, underestimating the needs for mothers and children to bond. When Maggie returns, her son does not recognise her, pining for his stepmother who is the mother-figure for him, and the support of his father.
The film shows in some detail the lack of progress in bonding and then the boy gradually getting used to his mother and her presence. However, moved by dissatisfaction, Maggie reenlists, joining the training of the squad who are to go to Afghanistan for nine months service. And the question is would it be like the last time?
In the meantime, Maggie forms a bond with a Hispanic man working at a service station. Her son becomes more used to her presence. Her former husband is upset at her leaving for Afghanistan again and the issue of divorce, child custody.
When the deployment is advanced, Maggie relies on a friend, staff Sgt Malcolm (Dash Mihok) to get her a different position, in Korea, where she could take her son. However, there are complications in the squad and Maggie has to go – at this time, making sure she bonds well with her son before she goes.
The film has the women’s perspective, written, directed and produced by Claudia Myers.
1. The title, the military fort, Texas? Action in Afghanistan? Home life in Texas? Military training in Texas?
2. The Afghan locations, the desert, the patrols, the attacks, medical work on-site? The contrast with Texas, the town, homes, outings? Fort Bliss, the offices, accommodation, drilling? The musical score?
3. The impact of the opening, camaraderie of the military, on patrol, the attack, the wounded soldier, the weapon, Maggie and her decision to extract it? Difficulties under fire? The success of her treatment? The later reprisal of the action sequence and its place in Maggie’s memory? And the behaviour of Sgt Donovan?
4. Maggie, 15 months away, the return home, the acclaim, the parade? Richard and Paul not present? Tracking down Richard, her estranged husband? His reaction about not meeting her? Taking her home, Paul and his ignoring of his mother, not having the memories? Is a devotion to Alma and her role as his substitute mother? Relationship with his father? Maggie insisting that he go home? His surliness, seeing Alma as his mother-figure? Maggie and her stern treatment of her son, commands, the meal, his knocking the food off the table, her making him pick it up?
5. The film highlighting the difficulties of those serving in the military, absences from home, the role of mothers? Easy for men to be away? Women being blamed? Her way of bonding with her son, stern, commanding, buying gifts, his saying they were for little ones, taking him to see Alma and Richard? The episode of his sleepwalking? Her gradual mellowing, his becoming more used to her?
6. Trying to cope, her decision to reenlist? Richard’s reaction? Accusing her of being selfish? Having time enough to train with her troops, the encounter with them, and Carver, his own family and his own experience, being severe with Maggie? The other officers, Butcher and his sternness, her recommending him as substitute, the phone call, her going to his house, the smashing, his angers, her withdrawing her support from him?
7. Maggie, the car breaking down, Luis at the garage, borrowing his bike, Paul riding with her? The return, the attraction, the sexual encounter, her resistance – and the memories of Donovan’s attempted rape? The development of the relationship, his staying at the house, the meal together, bonding with Paul and his love for football? Maggie telling Luis about going to Afghanistan?
8. The advancing of the date, Maggie’s friendship with Sgt Malcolm, his attraction towards her, his marriage? The meals, the discussion about a placement in Korea? Maggie making the decision, phoning him, to his house, the successful bid? Carver and his reaction? Richard and his reaction? Processes for divorce and custody?
9. Maggie, the memories of Donovan and his attack and assault? Her feeling she must go to Afghanistan?
10. Her better handling of the situation, talking it over with Paul, the watches and their respective times, the linking? Her sad farewell? Hopefully keeping bonds with him?
11. In Afghanistan, back at work, her talent for medical work?
12. A different perspective on American involvement in Afghanistan?
