Countdown to Outfest 2010: “A Marine Story” will be one of the best films you see at the festival

With Dreya Weber as the star and a producer along with JD Disalvatore and writer-director Ned Farr behind this film, I knew going in that A Marine Story was probably going to be a pretty good movie.

It turned out to be a superb movie and one that is sure to be one of the highlights of Outfest 2010, The 28th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival which opens Thursday and runs through July 18.

Here’s a synopsis: A Marine Story is set against the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy of the United States Military. A decorated Marine officer (Weber) unexpectedly returns home from the war and is quickly recruited to help a troubled teen (Paris Pickard) prepare for boot camp. But when the true reasons for her return become known it threatens the future for both of them.

The movie features first-rate acting by Weber and the storytelling and production values are top-notch. We find out through a few key flashbacks why this marine, named Alexandria, is discharged just before she was to have gotten her military pension. She had taken great pains to hide the fact that she is a lesbian – even marrying a fellow soldier – but someone has it out for her.

It’s infuriating this policy and I’m glad there are movies like this dramatizing it.

A superior officer says to Alexandria: “Just so we’re clear, I don’t see how you being a lesbian makes a damn bit of difference … it’s not a matter of unit cohesion or troop morale, it has to do with [gay] marriage.”

She tries to slow the wheels of the investigation down so she could get her pension and says: “I just want to be free to do my job.”

Back at home in her small town, one of Alexandria’s friends has the most wonderful line: “I wish ignorance was painful.”

Me too!

I have been a huge fan of Dreya Weber ever since seeing The Gymnast which screened at Outfest a few years back. I had seen it on a DVD screener before the festival and remember bumping into Dreya at the festival’s opening night party by the silent auction tables. I gushed like a groupie and hope I didn’t scare her.

So here’s what you should do: rent The Gymnast then make plans to see A Marine Story at Outfest. It will screen on Wednesday, July 14 at 7 p.m. at the Directors Guild of America main theater. Ticket info HERE.