Community Is Important in “Flag Day”

Flag Day (Andrew Shea/Melissa Shea, 2026) 4½ out of 5 stars

In today’s climate of division and corrupt politicians pitting Americans against Americans, Flag Day, a new documentary directed by Andrew and Melissa Shea (I’ll Be There), reminds us of the pricelessness of being part of a community where people truly care for one another. Set in the small farming town of Three Oaks, Michigan, the movie introduces a wide array of the town’s citizens and visitors getting ready for the annual Flag Day parade. Their roles vary from veterans, local business owners, marching band directors, and volunteers who create an event that brings nostalgia and the future together.

Flag Day never purports to educate the viewer on how the national holiday came to be, but rather what it is now and what it means to Americans. While towns across the country celebrate the holiday in their own special way, Three Oaks emphasizes the importance and pride that specific individuals contribute to the community. Directors Andrew and Melissa Shea wisely let the citizens of Three Oaks speak for themselves by adopting an observational approach in documenting the event.

You feel as though you are a visitor who stumbled upon these people on parade day and befriended every one of them. The cinematography and editing are never flashy or pretentious. The filmmakers are confident in the human stories they have captured and never stray from them.

While the documentary doesn’t have the traditional sit-down testimonials, it favors on-the-go interviews as its subjects prepare for the day. This method avoids the documentary mistake of treating the subject matter as passé. The film instead creates a feeling of immediacy and an opportunity for communal unity that could happen at any time and place in America. If Flag Day, as we see it here, can bring together the diverse community of Three Oaks, Michigan, then there’s no reason the United States can’t use this holiday to heal its perpetual division.

Patrick Howard

Patrick Howard has been a cinephile since age seven. Alongside 10 years of experience in film analysis and criticism, he is a staunch supporter of all art forms and believes their influence and legacy over human culture is vital. Mr. Howard takes the time to write his own narrative stories when he can.