Documentaries can evoke a strong emotional response in viewers, but few fuel such a sense of outrage and justifiable anger as "Semper Fi: Always Faithful." Winner of the "Best Editing -- Documentary" award at Tribeca 2011, this film follows one man's extended crusade to right a long-standing wrong.
Co-directors Tony Hardmon and Rachel Libert follow Marine Corps Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger as he travels the country seeking answers about the water problems at Camp Lejeune. From June 1957 to March 1987, Marines and their families stationed at this military base were exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals. Ensminger and his family were among those exposed and, at the age of 9, his daughter Janey died from childhood leukemia.
Mike Partain, another driving force in "Semper Fi," was exposed to the same toxic drinking water as a child. Decades later, Partain was diagnosed with male breast cancer. Though this type of cancer is rare, Partain found approximately 65 other men with breast cancer who also spent time at Camp Lejeune.
When Ensminger, Partain, and their associates piece together all the information, they discover a higher-than-average incidence of childhood cancers among the children who lived at Camp Lejeune. One jaw-dropping scene featuring the men walking through a military graveyard shows a high incidence of stillbirths at the base.
Director Hardmon and Libert bring a balanced focus to the issue of government responsibility, but it is hard to stay objective while watching "Semper Fi." Their cameras follow a retired Marine named Danita who receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. Her anger and frustration boil over when a Marine spokesperson says it would be too much work to contact everyone who had been stationed at Camp Lejeune about possible exposure.
"Semper Fi" also looks deep into the personal lives of Jerry Ensminger and Mike Partain. While talking to the camera, Ensminger's family admits that Janey's death prevented him from getting close to anyone again. Partain, a father of four, spends so much time on this crusade that his daughters complain that he never has time for pizza and board games anymore.
Although there is no happy ending in "Semper Fi," the efforts of Ensminger and Partain have brought about some changes. Rep. Bradley Miller (D-NC13) sponsored H.R. 4555, also known as the "Janey Ensminger Act," to provide medical care for those exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune. After years of side-stepping, the government also admits the truth about the contaminants in the Camp Lejeune water.
A real eye-opener, "Semper Fi: Always Faithful" shows how the government can turn a blind eye to those who served open and honorably. It also points out that Camp Lejeune is just one of hundreds of contaminated military bases and that the battle for military justice is just beginning.
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