In Country is a 1989 drama film directed by Norman Jewison, based on the novel by Bobbie Ann Mason. The film stars Emily Lloyd as Samantha Hughes, Bruce Willis as her Uncle Emmett, and Joan Allen as her deceased father's former girlfriend, Irene.
The story takes place in the small town of Hopewell, Kentucky during the 4th of July weekend in 1984, where Samantha is a high school graduate who is struggling to find a sense of purpose and direction in her life. She becomes increasingly fascinated by stories of the Vietnam War that her uncle and his friends tell her, particularly of her father, who died before she was born.
Samantha begins to study the war in-depth, reading books, watching documentaries, and listening to the stories of veterans. She even takes a trip to Washington D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Along the way, she meets Irene, who tells her stories about her father's life in Vietnam.
As Samantha dives deeper into her research, she becomes more and more overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the war and the toll it took on both soldiers and civilians. This leads to a confrontation with her Uncle Emmett, who is struggling himself with PTSD and alcoholism.
In the end, Samantha finds solace in meeting with Irene once again, who gives her a letter that her father wrote to her before he died. The letter expresses his love for Samantha and his hope that the war would not define their lives. The film ends with Samantha reading the letter while standing at her father's grave.
In Country is a poignant and emotional film that explores the complex legacy of the Vietnam War and its impact on both soldiers and their families. It is a powerful reminder of the need to confront the past in order to find peace and healing in the present.
