The Inspection

Rejected by his mother, a young gay man finds unexpected strength, camaraderie and support after he joins the Marines.

2022 | Running Time: 1 hour 35 minutes | Rating: R

The Inspection is a military romance, a high-stakes coming-of-age story set during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era in the US military. We follow formerly homeless pier kid Ellis French from the streets of NewYork to the barracks of the Marine Corps, where he must undergo rigorous physical trials while concealing his sexuality. When his fellow recruits and homophobic drill instructor uncover the truth, they go to life-threatening extents to force him out. Along the way, French learns how to be a real man: by being himself.

Director, Elegance Bratton is an American filmmaker and photographer. He began his career in the 2010s, writing, directing, and producing a variety of projects including the short film Walk for Me, the reality television series My House, and the documentary film Pier Kids.


“He [Bratton] fills “The Inspection” with style, with spiky humor and alluring edge. It’s a promising feature debut.”

VANITY FAIR


“Documentarian Elegance Bratton brings assured filmmaking skills and life experience to this powerful narrative debut”

THE WRAP