Island Soldier

Last updated
Island Soldier
Directed byNathan Fitch
Written byBryan Chang, Nathan Fitch
CinematographyNathan Fitch
Edited byBryan Chang
Music byBing & Ruth
Production
companies
Atoll Pictures; Pacific Islanders in Communications; the Humanities Guåhan; Meerkat Media
Release dates
  • 8 April 2017 (2017-April-08)(Durham, NC)
Running time
86 minutes
Countries United States, Federated States of Micronesia

Island Soldier is a 2017 American documentary film written, directed and produced by former Peace Corps volunteer Nathan Fitch. [1] [2] The film deals with problems faced by United States Military families from Kosrae who are citizens of Federated States of Micronesia. Because of a free association agreement called the Compact of Free Association, they can serve, fight and die for the US in Afghanistan and Iraq but they cannot vote. [3]

Contents

Release

After its World Premiere at the Full Frame Film Festival in North Carolina, Island Soldier has screened at film festivals across the USA as well as Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan and Taiwan. [4] [5]

On Dec 15, 2017, a special screening was presented by the US Department of State and the US Department of the Interior at the Sidney Yates Auditorium in Washington, DC. [6] [7]

On April 4, 2018, a special screening was held on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. [8]

On November 14, 2018, the film was broadcast on PBS television and the World Channel as part of the America ReFramed series. [9]

Reception

Critical response

Island Soldier has not received a rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, but it has received mostly enthusiastic reviews. [10]

Sheri Linden of the Hollywood Reporter praised it as "an affecting chronicle of gentle lives and quiet outrage." [11] Jason Sanders, in Filmmaker Magazine, writes that the film "benefits from Fitch’s camerawork, empathy and connection to their subjects, while Bryan Chang’s deft editing does well to underline both Kosrae’s breathtaking natural beauty and its more prosaic, end-of-the road isolation that forces so many of its youth to leave." [12] Sally Round, writing for Radio New Zealand, says the film "brings hope to FSM." [13]

On the negative side, Chad Blair of the Honolulu City Beat criticized the film for asserting "that Micronesians are killed at a higher rate than soldiers born in the 50 states, though the evidence is limited." [14] [15]

Accolades

Date of CeremonyCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef(s)
Guam International Film FestivalOct 1, 2017Grand Jury AwardIsland SoldierNominated [16]
Best DocumentaryNominated
Audience AwardWon
San Diego Asian Film Festival Nov 11, 2017Audience AwardIsland SoldierWon [17]
Seattle Asian American Film Festival April 24, 2017Grand Jury Award - Best FeatureIsland SoldierWon [18] [19]
Audience Choice - Feature FilmWon
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival May 10, 2018Best Documentary FeatureIsland SoldierNominated [20]
Best CinematographyNathan FitchWon [21]
Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film FestivalJune 11, 2018Grand Jury Award - Best DocumentaryIsland SoldierWon [22]

See also

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federated States of Micronesia</span> Country in Oceania

The Federated States of Micronesia, or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Oceania. It consists of four states – from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – that are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise around 607 islands that cover a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,678 mi) just north of the equator. They lie northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km (1,802 mi) north of eastern Australia, 3,400 km (2,133 mi) southeast of Japan, and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of the main islands of the Hawaiian Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia</span>

Geography of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a country located in the western Pacific Ocean, and in the Micronesia cultural and ecological sub-region of Oceania. While its total land area is very small at 702 km2 (271 sq mi), it has the 14th largest exclusive economic zone at 2,996,419 km2 (1,156,924 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands</span> 1947–1994 US-administered UN trust territory in the western Pacific

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pohnpei</span> Island in Micronesia

Pohnpei "upon (pohn) a stone altar (pei)" is an island of the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group. It belongs to Pohnpei State, one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Major population centers on Pohnpei include Palikir, the FSM's capital, and Kolonia, the capital of Pohnpei State. Pohnpei Island is the largest with an area of 334 km2 (129 sq mi), and a highest point of 782 m (2,566 ft), the most populous with 36,832 people, and the most developed single island in the FSM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosrae</span> State in Federated States of Micronesia

Kosrae, formerly known as Kusaie or Strong's Island, is an island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The State of Kosrae is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, and includes the main island of Kosrae and a few nearby islands and islets, the most significant of which is inhabited by 1,500 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia</span> National flag

The flag of the Federated States of Micronesia was adopted on 30 November 1978. The blue field represents the Pacific Ocean. In an echo of U.S. heraldic practice, the stars represent the four federated states: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap, arranged like the points of the compass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosiwo Nakayama</span>

Tosiwo Nakayama was the first President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). He served two terms from 1979 until 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuuk State</span> State in Federated States of Micronesia

Chuuk State is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The other states are Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Yap State. It consists of several island groups:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yap State</span> Constituent state of the Federation of Micronesia

Yap State, also known in the Yapese language as Nam nu Wa'ab or simply as Wa'ab, is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The other states are Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Chuuk State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Micronesia-FSM</span> Public community college in Micronesia

The College of Micronesia-FSM (COM-FSM) is a public community college in the Federated States of Micronesia. It began operation in 1963 as the Micronesian Teacher Education Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FSM National Police</span>

The Federated States of Micronesia's National Police is the small national police force of the Federated States of Micronesia and is a division of the FSM Department of Justice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federated States of Micronesia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Federated States Of Micronesia–United States relations are bilateral relations between the Federated States Of Micronesia and the United States of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirosi Ismael</span>

Hirosi Ismael was a Micronesian politician. Ismael served as the third Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia from May 1987 until 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alik Alik</span> Micronesian diplomat and politician

Alik L. Alik is a diplomat and politician from the Federated States of Micronesia who was the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia from May 11, 2007 to May 11, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Yap</span>

The office of the Governor of Yap is the highest elected position in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postage stamps and postal history of the Federated States of Micronesia</span>

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

Education in the Federated States of Micronesia is required for citizens aged 6 to 13, and is important to their economy. The literacy rate for citizens aged 15 to 24 is 98.8%.

The Federated States of Micronesia is a United States Associated State consisting of 4 states across the Western Pacific Ocean. The estimated population in 2015 was 105,216. Formerly the FSM was a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) but in 1979 formed its own constitutional government. FSM has a written constitution which took effect in 1979 and has been amended only once in 1990. By virtue of membership in the United Nations, the FSM abides by the UN Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Key human rights concerns in FSM include judicial delays, government corruption, discrimination against women, domestic violence and child neglect.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the Federated States of Micronesia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus has reached the Federated States of Micronesia on 8 January 2021.

Kosrae State Museum is a museum in Tofol in Kosrae State in the Federated States of Micronesia.

References

  1. ↑ "About". NATHAN FITCH. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  2. ↑ "Island Soldier by Nathan Fitch". Pacific Islanders in Communications. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  3. ↑ Fitch, Nathan (2017-02-13), Island Soldier - Trailer , retrieved 2018-04-25
  4. ↑ "Screenings". ISLAND SOLDIER. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  5. ↑ "Schedule". TIEFF. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  6. ↑ "@islandsoldiermovie on Instagram: "Honored to have our screening today introduced by Ambassador Susaia and Director Pula, and a Q&A with Micronesian soldiers Sigrah and Esta!…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  7. ↑ "Island Soldier Movie". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  8. ↑ Jaynes, Bill. "Stunning documentary, "Island Soldier" has its first screening in the FSM". www.kpress.info. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  9. ↑ "Eugene Lang Faculty Nathan Fitch Debuts New 'Island Soldier' Documentary". The New School News. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  10. ↑ Island Soldier (2017) , retrieved 2020-12-05
  11. ↑ "'Island Soldier': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  12. ↑ Sanders, Jason. "Hawaii Rising: Creating Community at the 37th Hawaii International Film Festival | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  13. ↑ "'Island Soldier' brings hope in FSM". Radio New Zealand. 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  14. ↑ "Chad Blair: The Story Of Micronesians Fighting America's Wars". Honolulu Civil Beat. 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  15. ↑ "Press". ISLAND SOLDIER. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  16. ↑ "Island Soldier (WINNER – Audience Choice Award, NOMINEE – Grand Jury Award, Best Documentary Feature) – Guam International Film Festival". www.guamfilmfestival.org. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  17. ↑ "Announcing the 2017 SDAFF Award Winners". 2017 San Diego Asian Film Festival. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  18. ↑ "SeattleAAFF on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  19. ↑ Island Soldier , retrieved 2018-04-27
  20. ↑ ISLAND SOLDIER , retrieved 2018-05-09
  21. ↑ "Congratulations to our 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival winners!". 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  22. ↑ "HAAPI Film Festival". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
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