How to Fold a Flag: Adjusting to Civilian Life

Some films are difficult to watch. Some topics are difficult to discuss. Despite this, it is often those topics... films... issues... that are necessary to discuss. If there is one topic today that isn't discussed enough, it's the issue of how our country takes care of veterans coming home from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Perhaps this is why so few people were in attendance for the screening of "How to Fold a Flag," the most interesting and compelling documentary that I watched at TCFF. The film is from Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein, directors of another documentary called "Gunner Palace." "How to Fold a Flag" is actually a sequel to their "Palace," an incredibly raw film that followed American soldiers in the 2/3 field artillery during their tour in the Iraq war. In "How to Fold," these troops have returned home, having to pick up where they left off.

Of course they've changed, but these four people that are followed throughout the film attempt to return to a sense of normal, whatever that may be. Javorn Drummond is going to college, living in his barely livable home. Stuart Wilf is working at a convenience store. Jon Powers is running for Congress. Michael Goss is wresting in an MMA circuit.

The four show a varied experience of adjusting to civilian life, something that our government does not really provide a service, or assistance, in adjusting to. Michael Goss tells the story of his suicidal tendencies and attempts to seek help. Wilf seems aimless, though somewhat content, but vocally aggravated by how some fellow veterans are handling their adjust to civilian life. Javorn talks humorously and intelligently about the issues of media coverage of the war and his feelings of unimportance, of lacking value in the America that he's returned to. Powers' portrayal is from a distance, clearly keeping focusing his energy entirely on an election that was toughly fought and eventually lost.

While their roads are vastly different, all of the people in this documentary share a common thread. Drummond, Powers, Wilf, and Goss are all looking for ways to come to terms and deal with the difficulties of war while attempting to find purpose in a country that has shipped them away and returned them home with nothing. How can we do this to people that put their lives on the line? Despite any issues about the purpose of any war, how can you ignore the pain of these people?

From my perspective, the issue of mental help is especially important. Still relatively taboo in mainstream US culture (See: parody of Ron Artest thank his therapist after winning the NBA championship.), the issue of depression, anxiety, and various other mental difficulties result from war are still under diagnosed, resulting in an even greater difficulty adjusting to civilian life. In the year 2010, I think it's about time that we realize our internal works include our mental workings, as well. For veterans and citizens alike, this film highlights the importances of seeking help.

If there is one issue that is unfortunately not addressed at in this film (as a veteran in the audience pointed out at the Q&A following the film), it is the issues that are specific to military women and veterans face at home and in the service. But this could quite possibly be due to the fact that the military is still largely viewed as a male-only institution. However, with articles like Nancy Gibbs essay published in Time magazine this past March, I feel like this issue will become more frequently discussed.

When looking at this documentary from a film standpoint, I cannot help but be in awe from time to time as Epperlein and Tucker craft some beautiful moments on film. Like "Gunner Palace," it seems that there is little manipulation or control of the situations in which they document; it appears that the people in the film are truly telling their story. As a young filmmaker, I find this to be quite a daunting thing. As a director, my want for control is endless. It takes real talented directors to be able to let their focus tell the story themselves. The best stories can.

In a film like "How to Fold a Flag," this is important. If we are ever going to talk about the issues of civilian adjust for veterans on a national level, we will need to understand, through the eyes of those that are experiencing difficulty, what needs to be done. This film is a touching work that argues this is quite a lot to be done.