It is one of these films that will stay with you for days
War veterans in the US struggle to integrate back into society and find it hard to pay for things such as therapy and health care. All of this is highlighted in STRAY DOG – a documentary about a biker veteran who does his best to help people any way he can.
The documentary is a charming look at the life of Ronnie ‘Stray Dog’ Hall. We follow him through a section of his life where he dedicates it to helping others and remembering his friends who died in Vietnam. Although it is primarily about his easy-going lifestyle, STRAY DOG does paint an upsetting picture of how war veterans are treated in the US and how they have to get by on very little.
Ronnie earns a living by owning a RV park on the back roads of Missouri. His life is very hand-to-mouth but he and his wife appear to love it. The documentary will make you laugh a lot of the time as you realise how a lot of these bikers are so good natured and determined to help others. However, there are moments where they discuss their memories of war which are horrifying and highlight just how scarred they are from it. Ronnie explains how ashamed he is of certain things he did during the war and how he and dozens of others feel this way.
STRAY DOG does not really have a specific structure to it, we see Ronnie go through a part of his life where he goes on memorial bike runs to Washington D.C., attends the memorial services of friends and the funerals of soldiers who have died in the war in Afghanistan. We also see him at home, where his love for his wife and dogs is heart warming.
Director Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone) chose to film this after meeting Ronnie and deciding he was an intriguing personality – someone who lives somewhat off the grid, yet tries to help others get through issues such as depression. He really is an interesting person and the film in general shows how people in these isolated areas are so genuine and kind.
STRAY DOG is an unusual ‘fly on the wall’ style documentary, but it is still capable of evoking so much emotion. It is one of these films that will stay with you for days. It shows how so many people struggle to afford for basic things such as dental care despite being so mentally scarred from serving their country.
Verdict
