Pretty good movie

Rating: 7/10 (4 January 2005)

It's a bit drawn out in parts but you should think about going' and renting the DVD, take it back to the house, maybe get some chips and pop from the Giant Iggle, or maybe even get some Arn City Beer from the State Store. Afterwards, take in a Stiller game, an' that.
It's good for a couple of things: one, it's good essay on what Vietnam soldiers had to deal with, especially for being so soon after the war. (Only 3 years after Saigon). It does a very good job of demonstrating the effects of post-traumatic stress, and the different ways that different people cope with it (or don't cope with it). After watching it, I hope you have a renewed appreciation for what our soldiers went through over there. Whether or not you agree with the purpose of the Vietnam war, our boys deserve our respect and admiration for their sacrifices.
Another thing that it's good for is seeing the legendary Pittsburgh steel industry shortly before it collapsed in 1979. There are still a few mills running near Pittsburgh, but nothing like in the past (keeping in mind that Pittsburgh, which is not a large city, produced more steel than Germany and Japan combined during WWII, and the "Smokey City" was often dark at 3:00 in the afternoon). Pittsburgh natives will find a bit of nostalgia in this movie, at least, those who are old enough to remember the steel era. There is also a fairly good look inside the Polish culture that is very much alive in Pittsburgh. Polka music is common at large events, like air shows.
All in all, a very good movie that provides good insight on several different aspects of life: trauma, culture, love, and loss.