She served in WWII. Seventy years later, she's still answering the call.
In 1945, Adele Shimanoff joins the U.S. Marine Corps amid a larger plan to bring women into the military in order to “free a marine to fight.” Adele moves away from the traditional Women’s Reserves and into active duty for a year, where she forms lifelong friendships and meets her future husband. He remains in active duty for 28 years after she leaves, giving her a full experience of life with the Marines. More than 70 years later, Adele is forced to confront the idea that she is still needed, even when her friends have passed on before her.
Acting
Adele herself—unfiltered, hilarious, devastating.
Direction
Anderson lets Adele's voice drive every frame.
Production
Archival footage woven with present-day poignancy.
Director
Hannah Anderson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Women Marines in WWII were nicknamed 'BAMs'—Big Ass Marines, reportedly coined by male Marines themselves. Adele would've heard it all.
The 'free a man to fight' recruitment strategy brought over 23,000 women into the Corps, yet their service remained officially 'auxiliary' until 1948—Adele's year of active duty was exceptionally rare.
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