"Gone Elvis" confronts the viewer with the bare and hopeless lives of those who have fought abroad for their country but whose country won't fight for them once they're back home. The short film follows one day in the life of Olivia Sloane, who served in Iraq, while her husband took off with her daughter, and who has nothing left now but her car, some worn clothes, and a handful of dollars. The terrors of war and the memories of sexual abuse by other soldiers haunt her, while she desperately tries to find a job and get her life back under control. Unfortunately, a mere "thank you for your service" by her fellow citizens won't pay her bills, and so there's little hope left.
That bare, hopeless life of fictional Sloane and thousands of veterans just like her in the real world is silently captured by the camera. No fancy shots or any other distractions except for the occasional soundtrack, whose melody is as haunting as the nightmares that Sloane carries around in her head. And as the day reaches its end, the camera withdraws and moves on - just like those who'd rather ignore the desperation of so many homeless veterans out there.
Watch "Gone Elvis", and you'll feel some of that desperation. And while you can crawl back into your comfy beds in your warm homes afterward, those veterans are still out there in the streets or in their cars. Alone and without hope. Maybe this quiet little film can make some noise, so go watch it, rent it, share it. It's the least you can do.