The Dry Land (2010)

A U.S. soldier returning home from war struggles to reconcile his experiences abroad with the life and family he left in Texas.

Director:

Ryan Piers Williams

Writer:

Ryan Piers Williams

Stars:

Ryan O'Nan, America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan O'Nan	...	James
America Ferrera	...	Sarah
Jason Ritter	...	Michael
Melissa Leo	...	Martha
Wilmer Valderrama	...	Raymond Gonzales
Diego Klattenhoff	...	Henry
Ana Claudia Talancón	...	Adriana
Evan Jones	...	Joe Davis
June Diane Raphael	...	Susie
Ethan Suplee	...	Jack
Zion Sandoval	...	Ian
Sasha Spielberg	...	Sally the Checkout Girl
Benito Martinez	...	David Valdez
David Smith	...	Bill
Misty Upham	...	Gloria the Receptionist

Storyline

A thesis picture. James arrives home to West Texas from Iraq. He doesn't remember much about the war, and it's soon clear he has post traumatic stress. He takes a job at an abattoir. After an alcohol-fueled fights with co-workers and his wife, he seeks help at the VA. He returns to find she's leaving him until he can regain control. He leaves his dog with his ailing mother and drives northeast to visit an Army buddy and find out what it is he can't remember. His friend won't say much, so James drives on to Walter Reed Hospital where another friend convalesces. Will James find out what he's repressed, and if he does, will it make anything better? What options does he have?

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Plot Keywords:

texas | army buddy | hospital | mother | post traumatic stress disorder | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content and disturbing violent situations

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

User Reviews

It isn't worth the time

Yet another Hollywood portrayal of soldiers returning from war as a bunch of drunken psychotic screw ups. This liberal waste of film even includes references to Vietnam just to ram the point home.

There isn't really a storyline in the film as it isn't necessary to make it's point. There is never any real dramatic basis for the problems with the character for which we are supposed to feel sorry so it is hard to feel anything.

If you are really into this sort of thing, a better film (along the same lines) is "Brothers" which does a better job with the same basic theme.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 January 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

American Tragic

Filming Locations:

El Paso, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,351, 1 August 2010

Gross USA:

$11,777

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,777

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maya Entertainment, Take Fountain Productions, Besito Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1