Kyle Hausmann-Stokes makes an impressive directorial debut with “My Dead Friend Zoe”, a deeply personal feature inspired by the tragic deaths of two of his platoonmates. There’s a number of powerful themes sewn into the fabric of his movie. But its chief interest is in exploring the experiences of military veterans in America. Hausmann-Stokes honors them through a poignant and honest examination of the wartime scars combat vets often return home with.

Merit (played by a brilliant Sonequa Martin-Green) is a troubled veteran who spent eight years in Afghanistan as a light-wheel mechanic for the U.S. Army. While serving she became close friends with the brash and boisterous Zoe (Natalie Morales). But Zoe’s life met a tragic end which is revealed to us over the course of the movie. Now Merit sees visions of her late friend and the two routinely carry on conversations. During their frequent tête-à-têtes, Zoe’s barbs range from darkly funny to piercingly cruel.

The idea of a deceased friend popping up to crack jokes and needle our protagonist may sound insensitive, especially considering the weight of the film’s subject matter. And this certainly isn’t the first movie to use this device in its storytelling. But kudos to Hausmann-Stokes who takes a thoughtful and schmaltz-free approach. At no point does his handling of the material feel insincere or gimmicky. Instead it adds a crucial emotional layer to the story that helps ground it in reality.

Aside from the flashbacks in Afghanistan, most of the story takes place in Oregon. Following an accident at her warehouse job, Merit is charged with criminal negligence and ordered by the court to attend group therapy meetings for former soldiers struggling with PTSD. The sessions are led by Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman), a VA counselor who refuses to coddle Merit but also shows her a great deal of compassion.

Meanwhile Merit gets a call from her mother, Kris (Gloria Reuben) telling her to go check on her grandfather, Dale (Ed Harris) who has been taken to the hospital. The doctor diagnoses Dale with early stage Alzheimer’s leading Merit and her mother to consider some difficult choices. As they do, Merit moves in with her surly grandfather at his beloved lakeside cabin, rekindling a strained but cherished relationship that may help her finally confront her own emotionally crippling pent-up trauma.

Hausmann-Stokes does a superb job delicately balancing a post-service soldier story with an affecting domestic drama, connecting them in a way that raises awareness to a number of potent real-world issues. The performances are top-to-bottom strong led by Sonequa Martin-Green’s eye-opening leading turn. And the sturdy Ed Harris proves again why he’s such a cherished actor. Morgan Freeman is effortlessly solid in what is a small-ish role while Utkarsh Ambudkar adds some levity playing an awkward retirement home administrator and part-time cemetery caretaker.

On the surface, its concept may sound far-fetched. But nothing about “My Dead Friend Zoe” comes across as exaggerated or inauthentic. Even the measured and well-tuned injections of humor fit well with the story Hausmann-Stokes is telling. We have to maneuver through a few narrative cliches to get to the ending and it’s a bit rushed once we get there. But those things do nothing to hinder the clarity of the filmmaker’s firsthand inspiration. It pulsates all throughout this stirring and insightful slice of reality. Opening in theaters February 28th.

VERDICT – 4 STARS