The Drummer

Screenplay by Jessica Gohlke and Eric Werthman, Directed by Eric Werthman

(2020)

RT: 99:00 min.

Set in 2008, during the Iraq war, THE DRUMMER revolves around three characters. WALKER, living alone and in his late 70s, is a Vietnam veteran turned lawyer and political activist, who has devoted his life to helping soldiers and veterans. Working out of an “anti-war” coffee house he opened near a base in upstate NY, Walker despairs about ever realizing the political goals he had hoped to achieve. In the course of two days, two soldiers come to Walker for help. DARIEN, late 20s, married with a small child, is awaiting his third deployment. Duty-bound but desperate, Darien is trying to decide whether to return to Iraq or possibly flee to Canada. CORI, early 20s, African American has been AWOL for a year. Hiding out in her grandmother's house, Cori harbors a dark secret from the war that she has been unable to reveal to anyone. With the United States engaged in seeming perpetual war, the traumatic symptoms suffered abroad will continue to be felt at home. All three characters struggle with the torments they experienced from their time in the service, but one falls victim to his increasing anguish. In the end, the film depicts the universal devastating and lasting effects of all wars on the human body and psyche.

Completed as the pandemic took hold of the country, The Drummer had its open-air premiere at The Woodstock Film Festival on 2020. The film also screened online at the 2021 Sarasota Film Festival. The film is being distributed by 1091 Pictures and is slated to receive is streaming premiere in November 2021.