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Father Soldier Son

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for Father Soldier Son R 2020 1h 39m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Wounded in Afghanistan, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Eisch and his sons set off on a journey of love, loss and redemption.
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Father Soldier Son

Father Soldier Son

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Critics Consensus

Taking the long view in its look at a military family's emotional journey allows Father Soldier Son to offer a uniquely moving perspective on the effects of war.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK) 08/10/2020
4/5
In its outcomes and politics, this film is almost begging to be oversimplified, but it's well worth staying on the alert for the ironies, the complexities and the tacit questions it finds a host of ways to express. Go to Full Review
Alissa Wilkinson Vox 08/04/2020
It's an observational documentary that doesn't push any one perspective too heavily; it's possible to watch it as a straightforward tribute to American soldiers and their families. But there often seems to be something darker lurking beneath the film. Go to Full Review
Robert Levin Newsday 07/23/2020
4/4
Captures something essential about how our families shape us and help us make sense of the inexplicable. Go to Full Review
M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut 09/01/2022
4.5/5
The themes in Father Soldier Son are under the radar, ever-lasting, and have devastating effects that shape generations — it’s one of the year’s very best documentary films. Go to Full Review
Alex Bentley CultureMap 02/05/2021
The fact that someone like Brian Eisch has sacrificed so much in the name of an ideal is humbling. Father Soldier Son is a compelling portrait of what that sacrifice looks like, and the impact it has on those closest to the person who gave so much. Go to Full Review
Alexandra James Film Inquiry 08/10/2020
Regardless of your thoughts about the Army, Father Soldier Son offers you the opportunity to see why people join the Army rather than padding the film with patriotism or criticism. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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S S Dec 4 Surprised this documentary has not had more attention. It’s a distinctly American story but there’s a lot to contemplate and worth a watch. The most extraordinary thing is that the film makers could not have known when they began filming in 2011, what trauma this family would experience over the next 8 year. Some of the themes are certainly troubling, even disturbing. Apparently some of these young soldiers have no idea why wars they participate in are fought or how they started and they don’t care! Sadly that’s not so surprising. The US armed forces relies on the ignorance of their young recruits. Honest and raw which I appreciated. See more 02/11/2021 Moving at times and a good capsulization of the multi-generational military "culture" that breeds and perpetuates the personnas of the father and the son. The screenplay sums up that narrative extremely well. See more 08/03/2020 Brian Eisch is a single parent who is deployed to Afghanistan. His sons, approximately 10 and 12 at the beginning of the film, love and admire him as a hero who is serving their country. The film explores what happens to the family over the next 10 years after Brian is permanently disabled as a result of a war injury. I liked the film mostly for the way it shows how the "tough man" aspect of masculinity is transmitted through the family culture. The film could have explored more deeply the impact that the father's injury had on the sons as they were coming of age. There is an underlying sadness throughout the film that provides stunning commentary on how families – in this case, fathers and sons - navigate various crises of manhood and identity in the military context. Thumbs up for a film that doesn't explore its topic as deeply as it could (and should) have, but it still provides an engaging and provocative viewing experience. It seems a bit of a cross between Boyhood and Coming Home. See more 07/28/2020 Eye-opening, gut-wrenching, a must-watch! See more @mawilps 07/25/2020 This Netflix documentary was pretty good. The crew did a terrific job of bringing this story to life. The plot is very dramatic and depressing. It gives a deep insight of what this family was going through during very difficult times in their lives. Even though, they were having issues at home, they still managed to move on and become a family again. If you're a Netflix member, you should check out this documentary. You'll enjoy it. See more 07/23/2020 Whether or not you supported the war in Afghanistan, the key point of this very moving story is a Father's love for his two sons and a desire to overcome physical and psychological obstacles upon his return to civilian life. A heartfelt story of love and sacrifice. See more Read all reviews
Father Soldier Son

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Movie Info

Synopsis Wounded in Afghanistan, Sgt. 1st Class Brian Eisch and his sons set off on a journey of love, loss and redemption.
Director
Catrin Einhorn, Leslye Davis
Producer
Leslye Davis, Catrin Einhorn, Nancy Gauss, Kathleen Lingo
Production Co
Netflix
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 18, 2020
Runtime
1h 39m
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