NOT SILENT tional Film Festival 2020 Cammermeyer’s memoir, Serving in Silence, was
adapted as a 1995 television movie by Barbra Streisand and starred Glenn Close, but Thompson’s own story remained a secret. In Cindy L. Abel’s new documentary, Thompson and her wife, Barbara Brass, candidly share how they wrestled with heart-wrenching choices that included hiding their relationship and struggling to protect their love while preserving Patsy’s military career. They emerged to become vibrant activists later in life, with Thompson coming out to her family and the public at age 80. As she states in the film, she has learned “the freedom that comes with living your truth.” Before Surviving the Silence, Abel directed and
produced the award-winning Breaking Through, a documentary in which LGBTQ elected officials shared their stories of self-doubt and triumph over multiple barriers. Her earlier film reveals a deeply personal, rarely seen side of both politicians and LGBTQ people. She was named Best Filmmaker by The Georgia Voice in 2019 and has served as national co-chair of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, vice chair of the Atlanta Film Festival, and vice president of communications of Women in Film & Television Atlanta. Speaking about the inspiration behind her new documentary, Abel said “the first thing I fell in love with was (Thompson and Brass’s) love story; I was fascinated that here were these women who had been together for 30 years and for much of that time had to pretend that they were not together.”
Abel sensitively examines each woman’s personal
background, which includes the fact that Brass is the Jewish daughter of two Holocaust survivors. The highlight of Surviving the Silence is its climactic
reunion of Thompson and Cammermeyer. The pair had not met since the fateful military trial in 1992. Both women admirably express their appreciation for each other 28 years later and continue to fulfill the Army motto of “duty, honor, country.” This movie is a must-see. Another LGBTQ-interest entry in this year’s SDIFF is
the provocative thriller, Through the Glass Darkly. A year after their daughter disappears, same-sex partners Charlie (played by Robyn Lively) and Angela (Bethany Anne Lind) continue to grow apart in the small town of Elrod, Georgia. When another girl goes missing, Charlie becomes convinced that the cases are connected and teams up with Amy (Shanola Hampton), a pushy reporter. This unlikely duo draws suspicion and contempt from local law enforcement but will stop at nothing to expose the town’s darkest and most devastating secrets. Despite the current, necessary restrictions, SDIFF is
taking a bold approach to what a film festival can look like in the COVID era. “Film has the power to shift our perspective – and allow us to look at topics through someone else’s lens,” Mantooth said. “We look forward to doing a lot of that this year.”
sdfilmfest.com
October 2020 | @theragemonthly 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
