The Dry Land

I have a lot of respect for America Ferrera (Ugly Betty). Instead of resting on her laurels she has been producing small independent features with socially conscious themes. The Dry Land deals with PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) and the film centers on James, Ryan O’Nan, a veteran who has just returned from the war in Iraq. His convoy was attacked killing several men in his unit, but James has blocked out all memories of the incident. His only goal is to get back home and resume a normal civilian life.

To prevent the delay of his release, James lied about his mental state and rushed himself back to Texas as soon as possible. But now that he is home he is dealing with the stress of a new job, married life and a mother who is gravely ill. He is having a hard time and can no longer hide his obvious distress. James is having trouble making the adjustment. His lack of memory is playing itself out in troubling dreams.

America Ferrera plays Ryan O’Nan’s wife, Sarah. When she wakes up one morning with her husband choking her, she realizes that something is seriously wrong. But when he refuses to discuss it with her or even admit that there is something amiss, Sarah becomes fearful and leaves home to stay with her parents. She tells James to get his act together, this separation sends him off on a binder.

Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia) plays Michael. He is James’ best friend but now it seems that he and Sarah have become a little too chummy. In his current mental condition, James blows the relationship completely out of proportion and after a gnarly knock down drag out fight he finely realizes that he needs help. In search of answers, James seeks out his fellow Army buddy Raymond, Wilmer Valderama (That 70’s Show). He’s hoping that Raymond can tell him what really happened in Iraq and help him fill in the missing gaps, but Raymond is having trouble adapting, too. He’s just trying to to file everything away. For him the past is better left forgotten. Unemployed and fighting with his wife, Raymond decides to join James on a trip to Walter Reed Hospital. The other surviving member of their unit is in rehabilitation there. He lost both of his legs and James is hoping that he’ll help give him some perspective.

In The Dry Land, Ryan O’Nan has a very haunted quality which serves him well in this picture. On the surface he is trying to be the man, but underneath you can see that he is just a scared little boy. Melissa Leo (Frozen River) plays James’ mother. She has nothing but love for her troubled son, but she has problems of her own. On oxygen and tiring easily, she puts on a brave front. You can easily see where he gets his stoic nature. Melissa Leo’s performance gives us much insight into the character of her son. She is excellent in this small role.

My biggest revaluation in his film was Wilmer Valderama. He has grown and matured so much since That 70’s Show. His performance is sensitive, natural and nicely shaded. He really does a tremendous job. His Raymond Gonzales reveals a more common reaction to post-traumatic stress; depression, alcohol and good old fashion denial. The two together are two sides of the same coin.

The Dry Land is not a big, splashy Hollywood film, nor does it hit you over the head with a message. It never points fingers or tries to explain the war, it just tells us one guy’s story and illustrates one possible journey. If the film has any message, it is that war can mess you up, but you don’t have to go through it alone. There are others that have been there, too. Reach out, share your pain, and remember that help is only a phone call away. In this respect, The Dry Land is really a hopeful film.

Rating: First Run One soldier’s journey back home