“Love & Trouble” Unveiled: A Raw Exploration of PTSD’s Impact on Marriage

Kerry and Kenny Watson’s love for each other is unequivocal. Kerry often admires Kenny, complimenting even the smallest details like the beauty of his ears and wrists. However, their relationship faced a significant challenge when Kenny returned to Scotland from his stint as a sniper in Afghanistan. Struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Kenny would sleep for up to 24 hours a day and was overwhelmed with paranoia, at times mistaking local dog walkers for Taliban snipers. The situation worsened when the cries of their young son, Harris, triggered his PTSD symptoms. This poignant documentary captures their journey over a decade without resorting to overt sentimentality.

The documentary intricately dissects their relationship, resembling a session of couples therapy. Kenny humorously recalls on the voiceover that he initially told Kerry he was a deep-sea firefighter rather than a soldier to avoid frightening her with the truth. He was drawn to her because of her sincerity, yet Kerry has kept some of her own childhood traumas hidden from him. The film employs a fly-on-the-wall approach, providing an intimate glimpse into their lives at the height of Kenny’s mental health struggles. In these moments, Kenny shares his thoughts and feelings with brutal honesty.

As Kenny’s condition deteriorates, Kerry seeks to improve her own life by returning to education despite her previous dislike for school and limited academic achievements. She pursues a degree in psychology and becomes a qualified practitioner. Meanwhile, Kenny starts to seek help for his condition. A slight drawback of the film is its lack of clear timelines, which could confuse viewers about the sequence of events. Despite possibly being more suited for television than a cinema screen, the documentary “Love & Trouble” showcases the remarkable emotional resilience of Kerry and Kenny.