A trailer has landed for “After Fire,” Brittany Huckabee’s new documentary examining the fastest-growing group of American veterans: women. “In the military, the focus is the mission,” says one “After Fire’s” subjects. She explains, “Once the mission is over and you’re transitioning to civilian life, you’re in shock because there’s so much trauma that happened and you stuffed it away.” The doc explores the emotional and psychological wounds that open the aftermath of war.
“After Fire” is set in the military outpost of San Antonio, Texas, and highlights issues facing female American veterans. Women “now account for one in five new recruits to the U.S. Armed Forces,” the film’s official synopsis details. “Demonstrating courage during their military service and resilience in its aftermath, Huckabee’s subjects candidly confront the fallout of their experiences on their personal lives as they adjust to the civilian world.” The feature “throws a spotlight on the human toll of rape in the military, combat injuries, and bureaucratic dysfunction, telling a universal story about strength in the aftermath of trauma.”
“All of us in this room, we all have our stories,” a speaker tells a group of vets in the trailer. She continues, “[Being] a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, [and] depression does not define who I am.”
“Almost everyone experiences trauma at some point in their lives,” Huckabee told Women and Hollywood in a soon-to-be-published interview. “I hope this film will leave audiences with insight on how to move forward in the aftermath.” She elaborated, “As the women in the film learn, telling our own stories — and having those stories heard by others — enables us to reconnect with ourselves and with a community. This can be a crucial first step in the healing process.”
Huckabee wrote, edited, and produced Netflix’s Emmy-nominated doc “Hot Girls Wanted.” She directed PBS’ Emmy-nominated “The Mosque in Morgantown.”
“After Fire” will make its World Premiere at DOC NYC on November 11. The film is seeking distribution.
