Tribal, a recently released 85-minute narrative-driven documentary by Army veteran Mark Kershaw and directed by the Borrego brothers, is taking the issues of suicide and PTSD to the screen.
Following his medical discharge from the Army in 2013, Kershaw went into software sales. In 2021, he used his savings to independently bring Tribal to the screen. Kershaw said his motivation was a personal one.
"I’m losing around one person from my unit to suicide per year,” he said. “They are people I know, from my platoon.”
Firsthand accounts by enlisted Army veterans John "Michael" Gomez, Omar Hernandez, and Marine veteran Wade Spann, are bolstered by short reenactments throughout the documentary.
Each of the testimonials candidly addresses suicide and PTSD. The stories are both intimate and gritty, centering on the challenges of loss, reintegration, and the need for community, brotherhood, and overall purpose after serving.
Kershaw said Gomez, Hernandez and Spann speak from their hearts and not like action heroes.
“They are authentic and real,” he said.
Kershaw said the goal for the documentary is to be a "force multiplier" - an activity that gives personnel the ability to accomplish greater feats than without it. He wants the film to especially be a force multiplier for veterans and their loved ones.
Kershaw also acknowledged that in places, the documentary could be “too raw” and he was urged to end it on a positive note.
“You know, like things are good when they’re not,” he said. “The film would not have been as impactful like that.”
Kershaw also hopes the film will destigmatize the mental health struggles and rapidly rising suicide numbers plaguing service members across the country.
“As veterans, we take on a burden, which is what leaders are supposed to do,” he added.
TRIBAL is available on major streaming platforms including Amazon Instant, iTunes/Apple TV, Vimeo, GooglePlay, Vudu, and hoopla, as well as most cable providers across the US and Canada.
To learn more visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.