Once a Marine, always a Marine–that mindset never goes away, and those who have served in this branch of the military typically tend to spend the rest of their lives adhering to the outfit’s values. Connie (Daniel Berkey) still lives the lifestyle years after leaving the outfit, and he’s raised each of his sons to follow a similar code of conduct–allowing each of them to become police officers. When Connie falls on hard times, however, he must find unorthodox ways to support himself financially. Life for The Retiree will never be the same after he makes one, gargantuan decision. Can he bounce back, or will his decisions drag him and his family down forever?
The Retiree is a touching story about the life of men and women once they’ve left the line of duty. There are some professions that take a heavy toll on the psyche of those involved, and individuals in the military often suffer from post traumatic stress (PTS)–often undiagnosed and often ignored by the majority of others. The narrative makes these sentiments clear, and Writer-Director Patrick McConnell captures these things (things that were brought to life in Russell Banks short story “Former Marine”) with great aplomb.
Berkey is tasked with conveying PTS in a very simplistic fashion. The world doesn’t always see the effects of PTS, and there are often times when those suffering don’t exhibit any symptoms. Berkey conveys a deeply troubled individual that appears to live his life just like everyone else, but he’s also able to flip the switch and convey a sense of urgency and desperation as well. While Connie looks grumpy throughout the course of The Retiree, one scene, as he drives down the road, sees his facial expressions shift, and it’s clear that his whole personality has changed as well. This is the defining moment of the entire film in my opinion; it’s the moment when the severity of what Connie is experiencing is realized by viewers.
The score is calming, oddly calming. However, in the calmness of the score exists a level of uncomfortability and urgency. It’s clear to viewers that Connie is struggling, and hearing eerily calm music playing in the background creates a strange sense of unease. Zach Mills and Evan Thompson do a spectacular job of creating sound for The Retiree as it adds to the suspense present in the film, and it invites viewers to become part of Connie’s journey. It’s a brilliantly constructed score that captures the emotional relevance of The Retiree while pulling viewers in and making them feel like part of the story.
The Retiree is a short film with a massive storyline. McConnell condenses what could have been a massive narrative into just twenty-five minutes, and he does so effectively. Nothing feels out of place, nothing appears to be missing, and the story is paced in a way that keeps viewers interested and focused. It’s sometimes hard to bring to life stories about mental health because it’s difficult to define what mental health looks like, and it relies heavily on dialogue and acting to effectively communicate what is attempting to be said. The Retiree expresses each and every sentiment with vigor, and it opens the world’s eyes to the struggle of those with PTS.
Written & Directed by Patrick McConnell.
Starring Daniel Berkey, Dan Bisbee, Carol Ault, Lisa Bol, Rachel Mock, Morgan Marver, David Haugen, Daniel Kiely, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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