Soldier's Girl [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Well I don't know where to start with this. This film was so moving, shocking, powerful, and sad. It made a HUGE impact on me!

As someone who lives in the U.K, I only remember hearing brief news reports about the murder of Private Barry Winchell in 1999. It was 2005 when I learned that a film about this had been made.

I have no idea why this film never had a U.K release on DVD, or why it has never been shown on British television. It really deserves to be released over here! I already had a copy of "Boys Don't Cry" - which I found to be a great film, but "Soldier's Girl" was far more powerful indeed!

I recently purchased a Region 1 (NTSC) version of the film, and I'm so glad to now own a copy of this little known gem.

There may be a few inconsistencies with actual events (for example Calpernia didn't live in a trailer park), but in general, the film stuck to the truth and handled the subject matter in a brilliant and sensitive manner.

SOLDIER'S GIRL was a made-for-cable (Showtime) U.S film that tells the true story of the relationship between Private Barry Winchell, and a Transgendered nightclub performer "Calpernia Addams". Winchell was a young 22 year old soldier, who was serving at Fort Campbell. There he shares a dorm with Justin Fisher - A loose cannon with several issues in his life.

Fisher one night takes Winchell (and some other fellow soldiers) to a nightclub called "Visions" where Transsexuals perform. He tells Winchell that bringing him there was "a test of character", but whilst Fisher knocks back the beers, he gets in a argument with Winchell, leading to one of the performers (Calpernia) breaking up this disagreement and taking Winchell back stage to clean some beer from his shirt.

Winchell is interested in Calpernia, and after talking to her, asks for her phone number. She gives him it, as she seems genuinely fond of him. Winchell doesn't tell his fellow soldiers what he and Calpernia talked about- or that he has her number.

3-4 days later Winchell telephones Calpernia (who seems a bit surprised that he actually phoned her back), and she invites him to a BBQ at her home later in the week.

The two meet up, get along very well. And before long they share their first kiss. Winchell is a straight man, and doesn't see himself as "Gay" since Calpernia is in herself "A Woman" even though she hasn't had full surgery yet. But as their relationship progresses, and news starts to spread around the barracks about Winchell's behaviour (mostly from Fisher), people start to accuse him of being Gay.

Later in the film we see a new soldier joining. He is 17 year old Calvin Glover. Fisher takes no time in winding up Glover by accusing Winchell of being "A Faggot", and telling Glover that someone needs to sort Winchell out.

After getting the young and unstable Glover drunk during the July 4th celebrations, Fisher gives Glover a "Luisville Slugger" - a vintage baseball bat, and tells Glover to sort Winchell out whilst he lies in bed asleep.

I found this to be almost unbearable to look at as Glover beats Winchell over the head several times with the bat. (This was so graphic that you could actually see bits of brain matter all over the wall!)

Glover returns to Fishers room covered in Winchell's blood, and at this point Fisher is shocked as to the extent that Glover went to. Winchell was close to death, but still alive after this brutal beating, but no ambulance arrived to take him to hospital for an hour due to the 911 system's being supposedly "down".

When Winchell eventually made it to hospital his injuries were so bad, that his parents asked the doctors to switch off his life support machine.

Glover was sentenced to a lengthy sentence, and Fisher was given a shorter sentence (Fisher has recently been released on parole).

Calpernia Addams had the final stage of her sex reassignment surgery, and is now working in hospital administration in LA.

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I would highly recommend this film, as it shows just how cruel we human beings can be, and that everyone deserves love, no matter who they fall in love with.

SOLDIERS'S GIRL, is a truly brilliant film that will have you glued to the television screen for the whole 112 minutes, and will in no doubt leave you shocked and saddened by the end of it.

I feel total hatred towards Glover and Fisher for what they did to an innocent man who did no more that fall in love with someone who's life wasn't called "normal" - Who are we to say what's normal or not!

A fantastic film that will stay in my mind for a VERY long time.

10/10

I have to agree with all the previous reviewer wrote. This is certainly one of the most moving stories I have ever seen related on film, and to realise it is true life makes the memory of it more painfully alluring. It caught me as soon as I started watching and I was glued, partly with admiration of a well made film, and partly with horror at this demonstration of how rotten life can be to the good, right to its ending. The acting was all first class, though I have to say the first fight scene between the roomates was a little bit wooden. The stars were rivetting - though I missed out on why the two main leads were initially attracted to each other (I can see her attraction to him - he was not only beautiful but also all things reasonable as a person- however, the other way round is more complicated to understand - perhaps that's why as the reflection of real life it was so shocking in its finale). A film that should not be missed by those who care - and those who, vulnerable, need to take heed of the wiles of the human being.

All I can say is this is one really moving and Beautiful Story,,, the way that Calpernias story is brought to life with some fantastic acting by all involved,,It Moves you,,,

The story is a tear Jerk-er and I would say it is a must for anyone who supports or identifies as Trans xx

Brilliant !!!