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‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ Review: A Veteran’s Creative Take on PTSD Packs the Power of Classic Capra
With 'My Dead Friend Zoe,' Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ earnest plea for the American public to support returning soldiers plays like classic Capra.
“I’ve lost more guys here than I did in Iraq,” testifies a veteran during one of the many group therapy sessions featured in “ My Dead Friend Zoe,” Kyle Hausmann-Stokes ’ affecting look at mental health among ex-servicepeople. That includes Morgan Freeman, a comfortingly familiar face who brings buckets of empathy to his role of Dr. Cole, the sage old counselor who oversees the group therapy sessions Merit has been court-mandated to attend. Here, Hausmann-Stokes punctuates Merit’s return to civilian life in Oregon with frequent flashbacks to her service: joking with Zoe, fending off the advances of male soldiers, listening to pop songs on a busted iPod (the lyrics of “Umbrella” have rarely been more poignant: “When the war has took its part … Said I’ll always be your friend”).
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