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butterflyJenna
Reviews
Cleveland Abduction (2015)
Sickening, Heartbreaking, Hopeful
I almost stopped watching this movie because I didn't know how I'd feel about Taryn Manning in this type of roll. But what I came to find was the inability to turn it off for the sake of feeling like it was my feminine duty to watch this movie, listen to the story, and reflect on the very real foundations where this movie came from.
In the end Taryn Manning did a phenomenal job at being a strong victim. What truly broke my heart was her almost attempted suicide scene, but she couldn't do it because Joey would need her. For years Taryn's character Michelle fought with hope, helping and protecting the girls who came after. She was the pillar of this story and what really effected me was when Michelle seemed hopeless for the first time and Gina was the one who had to make some hope for them to survive.
Ariel Castro was depicted by Raymond Cruz, who I can't imagine had an easy time being in this role, the abuse given and absolutely disgusting behaviour he had to act out was sickening to watch but yet was filmed in a respectful and tasteful manner.
Movies of this nature have a very unfortunate possibility of re-traumatizing victims from watching it when directors take certain scenes to far without thinking about the ramifications, but this movie walked along the edge steady and safely.
In the end because this movie is based on a very true story I cannot remove a star I wanted to from the way religion was played in this movie. To me I could not and do not love a God that has the capacity to allow these events to happen, but alas this wasn't my story and for that I will leave this at 7 stars.
This isn't a movie I will ever rewatch but it was one I will never forget.
Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)
An Ode to Trauma Survivors
This movie breaks your heart while also healing it.
This movie has success with only a specific category of people. I spent time reading the 3 star and under reviews and well I'm sorry dear privileged unknowing men but this movie was not intended for you.
There is no one size fits all mold for how traumatic events affect people, and this movie takes a leap of faith in showing one of the less common reactions. A women who decides to completely reinvent herself into someone who checks boxes, fits in, and though is part of higher society: is nothing special. You see Ani did something remarkable, she got herself into the safest position possible career, love, lifestyle-wise until she was truly ready to process and recover.
The beauty of this movie is that it shows tragedy from a singular perspective. We don't care how other people felt about that situation, this is purely about one women's lived experience.
For people who say this film is unrealistic: you just truly don't get it. Not everyone winds up the same kind of broken after trauma, some become incredibly able to make themselves successful.
This movie starts by hurting your heart, moves into absolutely breaking it with the details, then, and only then when you feel like nothing good will happen you see the raw power behind healing.
When this movie ended I found myself crying in my bed wishing I was at the point of being courageous enough to tell my story. These movies help and heal people like me.