A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1998, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries is a drama film directed by James Ivory, running about 127 minutes. “The city of lights. A famous American author and the decade that changed a generation...forever.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here portrayed as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

Who’s in it. A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries stars Kris Kristofferson as Bill Willis, Leelee Sobieski as Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 14, Jane Birkin as Mrs. Fortescue and Barbara Hershey as Marcella Willis, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $1.8M at the box office.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries page.

If you liked it. Fans of A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.