This film surprised me a lot, as you wouldn’t expect a comedic film to work with the main theme being PTSD, a mysterious communication with a dead army friend and a fractious relationship with a grandfather. It shouldn’t hold together, but in fact it works like a charm.
Merit is a US veteran who learns that her estranged grandfather is suffering from Alzheimer’s so decides to become his carertaker at their ancestral home. While there, she tries to heal herself from her war experiences, mainly be having imaginary conversations with her dead colleague Zoe.
I was thinking in a completely different way concerning how Zoe died, and it was like a 180 turn when you learn the manner of her demise. It’s a shock! Her death reveals a deeper meaning that the movie slowly drip-feeds into your consciousness.
It’s a clever twist that director Hausmann-Stokes with his first feature, weaves into the drama and comedy to great effect. Co-written with AJ Bermudez, Stokes has taken inspiration from his time serving five years in Iraq as a convoy commander and paratrooper. During his time, he received the Bronze Star and suffered the death of his good friend and platoon comrade.
For this film he has gender flipped the two main characters to be women of colour. What I thought he did exceptionally well was that he balances the tone of the film between poignancy and humour. He never lets one dominate the other.
The concept could have gone badly wrong and come across as flippant and insulting to veterans, but the fact that it is inspired by one, makes it feel authentic.
Sonequa Martin Green plays Merit and gives a commanding performance as an Army Veteran struggling with the loss of her best friend.
Her acting is so perfect, as her character Merit is so closed off, which we see in the opening scenes, where she goes to therapy meetings and doesn’t communicate and just sits there.
The thing that is holding her back from interacting with her real and imaginary worlds is her internal trauma. Will she be able to connect with the ones she loves and let go of Zoe (Natalie Morales)?
So, Merit’s mum calls her to look after her grandad (Ed Harris) who was also in the army and has early stages Alzheimer’s. It is this relationship that is the catalyst for Zoe’s slow return to reality and redemption. Zoe follows Merit around for much of the movie and comments on whatever is happening.
It has an amazing cast with Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris offering strong support but not overpowering Green and Natalie Morales as Zoe, both of which have strong screen presences. They hold their own with two Hollywood legends and the whole cast had fluidity in their performances which was exceptional and full of special moments.
My Dead Friend Zoe, has the bravery to explore the serious issue of the mental health of veterans and the impact of war on them and helps raise awareness of this difficult subject to a wider audience.
Perhaps its most moving message is the importance of being there for your friends. In life and death.
It is an extraordinary film, you will be shocked, cry and perhaps most importantly laugh.
Seek it out.