Cherry (Film and Novel)

    Cherry is a pseudo-biographical novel written by Nico Walker that depicts the effects of substance and drug abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a real look into the U.S. military through the experiences of an un-named, young medic. Walker wrote the novel while incarcerated for robbing banks to fund his addiction. After publishing the book, the Russo brothers acquired the rights for the film starring Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo.

The Book 

    The novel and movie are very similar with some slight differences, but they are both works of art. In Walker's novel, he focuses on having multiple stories in small chapters that follow a linear plot line from start to finish. Some of these stories are extra and feel unnecessary to drive the plot, but they give readers insight into his life. The voice and tone in the book make it impossible to argue that these events couldn't have happened. Only a person who has experienced life this way could write the things he writes. The book also looks at the main character's multiple romantic partners, but the movie only focuses on Emily. The book shows readers that the main character has an established relationship with his parents, but the movie doesn't mention them. The final difference is the ending. In the novel, our main character is robbing banks back to back and it sort of just ends. 

The Movie 

    This is one time where I might argue that a movie is better than a book. Lots of little details were left out, but the story is well-articulated for being over three hours long. The music demonstrates the tone that the book wants. It is separated into three parts like the novel, and each one shows us what causes the characters' behaviors in the next part. The drug addiction and effects of PTSD are gruesome and real. A lot of war movies like to put viewers in the action and make us feel sad on the battlefield, but this one brings the real war back home. The ending of the movie is meant to give the audience a "feel-good" ending, but it works because our protagonist deserves to get better. There are lots of veterans who don't get the help they need. There are lots of people who don't understand military culture and both the movie and the novel are accurate depictions of the true darkness that is the U.S. military. Unfortunately, the movie is only available on Apple TV+