Crisp story-telling and lively interview subjects make this documentary about LGBT graduates of the Annapolis U.S. Naval Academy a must-see for non-fiction film-lovers.

Steve Clark Hall’s straight-forward documentary centers on LGBT graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland as they discuss their sexuality in relation to their service. Eleven alumni speak of their experiences. They represent a cross section of the more than 300 LGBT Annapolis cadets who have come out since their graduation. Many of the subjects still have very strong bonds to the Academy, U.S. Marine Corp, and the U.S. Naval Corps today, despite “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Their stories show that Annapolis played a crucial role in their professional and personal development. All of the interviewees’ stories show the damage that this policy does to people’s lives. Many tell of the disastrous heterosexual marriages they entered into as a result of pressure to conform. While never really mentioning or even discussing it, the film skewers the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy while relating these brave men and women’s personal stories. -- Scott Cranin