Soldier’s Heart (2020)

Soldier's Heart (2020) is a post-Civil War film about John (Thomas Clay Strickland), a soldier who has recently returned from the Civil War. John experiences flashbacks from the mental and emotional wounds he has suffered during battle, preventing him from physically returning home. Not understanding his trauma, he sets up a camp on his property in an attempt to continue living as a soldier. He spends the majority of his time in the swamps and marshes that surround his coastal Georgia home. His daughter Sarah (Merrik Foune), who wants her father back, tries to find a way to help John return home. Seeking guidance from her grandmother (Sheril Rodgers), she attempts to build a relationship with her suffering father.

When I first started researching post-Civil War life, I was immediately struck by the fact that they didn't have a good understanding of what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was, initially thinking that it was a heart condition. Homer, Shakespeare, and Dickens all wrote about symptoms that we now recognize as PTSD. I want to inform the audience that PTSD is something that has existed for a long time and that it is something that soldiers have had to deal with through every major war. It took on different names such as Soldier’s Heart, Shell Shock, and Combat Fatigue until it was finally properly diagnosed in recent history. This film is about healing and showing that, with support and perseverance, PTSD can be overcome even in the most challenging of situations.

Film Festivals & Savannah, Ga Premiere

Summer in the South Film Festival (2020) - Winner Best Director

Black Cat Picture Show (2020) - Finalist

Oak Cliff Film Festival (2020) - Official Selection

Silverton Co International Film Festival (2020) - Finalist

Moon Rabbit Media Premieres Soldier’s Heart at the Tybee Island Theater (2019)

Director’s Statement

Summary

Soldier’s Heart: Original Soundtrack (2020) OST

Soldier’s Heart: Behind the Scenes (2020) BTS

The creation of the score for Soldier's Heart (2020) was an extremely collaborative process. The film's director, Seth F. Johnson, started speaking with music composer Chadd Jones nine months before the first day of production on the film even began. Seth was very interested in using a few key instruments and sounds such as bells, chimes, and crystal bowls. Chadd focused on creating a score that sounded very organic and conveyed all of the necessary emotions while still fitting in the post-Civil War period. The final result is a score that perfectly complements the film and its message.

Score by Chadd Jones

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Moon Rabbit Media’s Soldier’s Heart (2020). The film covers the pre-production, production, and post-production aspects of making Soldier’s Heart (2020) and also highlights some of the challenges that went along with making this historical drama. We knew that we wanted to put together a comprehensive BTS film, so we made a concerted effort to film every meeting, writing session, and rehearsal along the way.

Edited by Jesse Perry