Filmmaker Korey Rowe, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, travels cross-country to talk with old buddies about problems they face in trying to reintegrate into civilian society, while also interviewing medical specialists about the very real obstacles posed by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The backdrop to Rowe’s trip is not just the general statistic that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, but also the death of his erstwhile comrade-in-arms Jesse Snider, who lost his struggle with PTSD in 2014, fatally overdosing on opioids. The men here recall Snider’s troubling story as well as their own tales involving difficulties accessing Veterans Administration resources, overuse of prescribed medication, and the lure of criminal activity—particularly in the drug trade. Although the film includes footage of the men’s service in combat, the bulk of the material consists of interviews conducted by Rowe, along with his own on-the-road observations, and insights from experts on PTSD, including from a Vietnam veteran who himself still suffers from the condition while serving as a counselor for soldiers returning from more recent conflicts. A major argument throughout is that the beneficial effect of medical marijuana in smoothing the transition of veterans deserves much more serious consideration, especially given the dangerous side effects of other drugs. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Mile Marker
(2018) 93 min. DVD: $59.95 ($250 w/PPR from edu.passionriver.com). Passion River (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 5
Mile Marker
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