War movies aren’t about just one thing; they cover the breadth of experiences that military service members go through. In addition to living in a literal war zone, these experiences include coming home and dealing with the internal psychological war zone that can exist within. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been tackled within Hollywood cinema since its earliest beginnings, but in recent years the approach taken in these films has evolved.

Thank You For Your Service (2017)

The Prevalence of PTSD

According to the U.S. Department for Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans who struggle with PTSD depends on the service period. For example, 15% of Vietnam War veterans were diagnosed with the condition during a study in the 1980s, while 11-20% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom struggled (or still struggle) with it. The percentage seems to be between 10-20% based on the type of service the veteran performed.

PTSD can affect much of a person’s life, including their livelihood. It’s not uncommon for a veteran struggling with PTSD to become homeless as a result of their mental health. As many as 8% of the homeless population are veterans, and approximately 80% of them have mental health issues or struggle with substance abuse. Though vets are able to access healthcare through the Veterans Affairs system, there’s often a long waiting list.

Hollywood’s evolving approach to PTSD

In general, contemporary war films, and any other films that take on the topic of PTSD, opt for a more personal and sympathetic approach than their predecessors. While battle scenes may be shown (or may not), many films focus on the experience of the veteran – what it’s like to be them and to be in their head. This is particularly important given the fact that many veterans don’t discuss their experiences with PTSD, meaning that subtle cues in the acting performances of these films need to convey a great deal.

Films have not always presented PTSD in such an understanding and compassionate way. Historically, PTSD has often been depicted in neurotic or violent ways – a nod to the masculinity that some have learned to expect from men. In The Deer Hunter and Taxi Driver, men with PTSD are shown as people to fear… people who could fly off the handle at any moment. Even in many more current movies like The Hurt Locker and In the Valley of Elah, afflicted veterans are portrayed as violent, compelled by a need for combat or, in extreme cases, murder.

In 2019, the way that many filmmakers are choosing to depict PTSD combines masculine and feminine sensibilities (regardless of the gender of the veteran). War veterans can certainly have stereotypical “masculine” qualities, like courage, strength and toughness. They can also have qualities like compassion and forgiveness. These movies don’t glaze over the bravery and strength required to get through a war or traumatic experience, but they don’t ignore a person’s capacity for tenderness and love, either. This helps to present the broader public with an understanding of PTSD and veterans that breeds compassion and empathy. It’s these kinds of values that ensure employment organizations like Boots to Business and DAV spring up to help vets assimilate into regular life.

Here are three movies that show PTSD in a more empathetic manner:

Mudbound (2017) directed by Dee Rees

World War II veterans return home to Mississippi at the end of the war. They both have PTSD, which results in bouts of anxiety and shakiness, and flashbacks of war. Sharing their experiences with each other, often over a drink, acts as a coping mechanism. But this isn’t enough to stave off the nightmares… they must simply muddle through. However, the very fact that they discuss their experience with each is a significant shift from the war movies of the past – what they feel and why they feel are both made clear.

Thank You for Your Service (2017) directed by Jason Hall

Thank You for Your Service, follows three characters who return to Kansas after serving in the Iraq War. Their PTSD plays out in different ways: one character has depression and memory problems, another feels that he may be responsible for the death of another military service member and the third soldier commits suicide. Through each of their stories the complex and unqiue ways in which this condition affects different people are explored with sensitivity.

Stronger (2017) directed by David Gordon Green

While not a war movie, Stronger, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, shows the impact of PTSD on an individual following their experiences of a terrorist attack. The real-life story follows Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing. While he has an uplifting outlook at first, he ends up sinking into despair, alcoholism, self-hatred and denial, and treats the people who have stayed by him terribly. When people decide to stop feeling sorry for him, he’s forced to decide whether he’s going to continue sinking or if he’ll try to improve his life and relationships.

When veterans return home, it’s incredibly common for them to struggle with PTSD. On top of that, they often have trouble dealing with the experiences of normal life, such as reintegrating into their family or finding work. Luckily, there are organizations and businesses that prioritize military vets and their families – for example, the USPS gives vets and family members preference for jobs. While it’s not a treatment plan, having Hollywood show PTSD in a more realistic and compassionate light can show veterans that their struggles are shared and understood, and reveal to the rest of us the harsh reality of PTSD. But most importantly, these films can help to convey to all of us that there may be ways to overcome this horrible condition.