- When 23-year-old Bubba, who comes from a long lineage of military service, is rejected by the Army for his physical and mental health, he seeks camaraderie in the world of war re-enacting. But when he and a group of enthusiasts stage the first-ever public Vietnam War reenactment in Philadelphia, they unintentionally reignite the past traumas of the veterans they seek to honor and raise greater philosophical questions about their own fascination with guns, the realities of warfare, and mental illness.—Anonymus
- Young men dressed as Army rangers wander through an exotic jungle landscape-guns firing, planes flying ominously overhead, the palpable threat of death lurking behind the lush canopy. For some, this staged battle honors the bold heroism of Vietnam War veterans, while for others, it is a chance to feel like characters from Hollywood movies like PLATOON and FULL METAL JACKET. These divergent views, and coinciding matters of fictionalized self-identity, mental illness, and militarism, reside at the provocative, poetic heart of ONE BIG MISUNDERSTANDING. Rejected by the US Army because of his large size and questionable mental health, 23-year-old Bubba is dependent on his substance-addicted, but adoring mother, Rose. Bubba finds validation and camaraderie among an eccentric group of war recreationists who are working to mobilize the first public Vietnam War reenactment in the Philadelphia area. The group envisions the event as a spirited tribute that will feature weaponry displays, staged battles, and a USO show hosted by a Bob Hope impersonator, but for Bubba, the reenactment will be also offer a chance for his mother to see him in action. As the reenactment unfolds, instead of inspiring and honoring attending veterans, it unintentionally reignites their past traumas, and the realism and violence of this strange memorial are called into question. In the midst of the chaos, feeling like he's let down the veterans and his mother, Bubba suffers a startling physical collapse and has to be lifted from the battle. After the event, Bubba spirals into deep depression, isolating himself from his friends and battering himself with questions about his own worth. Can he finally fulfill the deeply personal pressure he feels to live up to his family history without dishonoring the service of actual veterans? Or is reenacting more about the personal satisfaction that comes from pretending to be a hero and playing with guns than remembering and learning from the past? On the brink of ruin, Bubba and his re-enactor friends decide to take one more chance to prove that their passion is more than just staging a game of war.—Anonymus
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