July 04, 2008
The filmmaker’s Iraq war movie "Stop Loss" is out on DVD this month. She sees a connection between it and her first feature, "Boys Don’t Cry," about a transgendered person. Peirce told Kurt, "I think it was interesting seeing how a woman constructed herself as a man, and how these young men also struggled to figure out what being a good man is."
(Originally aired: March 21, 2008)
STOP LOSS:
Did you see The War Tapes? Excellent! No commentary. Unedited Maine National Guard going to, in, and returning from Iraq with parallel film from back home. That might be the "first" unedited troop commentary documentary. Pierce's isn't troops only as it includes deserters, etc.
And she only found out about "Stop Loss" recently? 1 or 2 years ago? When did that start? 4 years ago? She hasn't been listening! Not one bit. I'm totally surprised that she was surprised. Obviously not fully engaged. Nor are you by not questioning her awareness!
All in all, pretty weak.
I'm sure it'll be interesting when I watch it but uncritical and uncontecturalized reviews are not helpful.
Know your subject.
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