SERVING IN SILENCE - The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story
Glenn
Close won an Emmy for her portrayal of Margarethe
Cammermeyer in this 1995 made-for-television film. An army medical
officer in line for a career promotion during the Bush Administration,
but suddenly faced discharge proceedings after admitting to being a lesbian,
the real-life Cammermeyer became a focus of national attention on the
issue of gays in the military. This sensitive production focuses on Cammermeyer's
decision to fight institutional bigotry and the way her family and that
of her longtime partner, Diane Divelbess (Judy
Davis, who also won an Emmy), rally to support these good people.
The script by Alison Cross captures
the sad irony of doing everything right--serving one's country, taking
care of the people in one's life--yet still being treated like a pariah
for entirely irrational reasons. A bit of dismissible controversy arose
about a discreet kiss between the principals, but for the most part this
film is designed to win over the hearts and minds of a broad audience
with its sheer humanity. --Tom Keogh
