Soldier Bee

Jodie Baxter, a Captain who has returned home from Afghanistan after being wounded by a hidden explosive, is left with both physical scars and profound psychological trauma. She finds it difficult to reconnect with her husband on both an emotional and intimate level and starts to notice the growing gap between herself and her daughter, who conceals important milestones of adolescence that Jodie feels she should be present for. While in the process of leaving their military housing, Jodie seeks refuge in a hotel, a place where she can find peace and reflect on her past. There, she becomes fixated on a couple—a domineering older man and a young sex worker whom he degrades and mistreats. Intrigued, Jodie follows them to their room and intervenes, leading to a violent and passionate encounter that she perceives as an act of ‘protection.’ Through this intense experience, she gains insight into her own past traumas and the inner turmoil that has been haunting her.