There has never been a movie that normalizes the consequences veterans face when they return from war. Sensational tales of combat, on the other hand, are everywhere, often overshadowing the true cost of the sacrifice of real-life warriors, and leaving them without a shared story or idea that reflects their actual experiences.
We were one of the lucky audiences who encountered this film on the festival circuit, only to feel like it was made just for us. Our graduates who’ve seen the film say that Calvin’s story is their story.
Beginning Thursday, January 16, the world will get to experience what we experienced in theaters across the country—crossing the great divide of understanding with generations of Americans from all walks of life.
Based on 14 years of labor by and for veterans working alongside Academy, Emmy, SAG and Tony award-nominated stars, this is a film about a veteran who does the difficult work of overcoming the heavy strain of post-traumatic stress—learning what it means to start living again.
For Warriors’ Ascent, a movie like this is the greatest gift imaginable for the millions of veterans we exist to serve—moms and dads, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and grandparents—who deserve to have their stories normalized, and who deserve to discover just how universal hope truly is for growth after trauma.
