Hi Matthew, Two semi-recent titles we’ve reviewed favorably are: May/June 2011 (Volume 26, Issue 3)
Sin by Silence (2009) 49 min. DVD: $159: public libraries; $325: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Closed captioned. In her stirring documentary, Olivia Klaus profiles Convicted Women Against Abuse, a U.S. prison support group made up of offenders serving time for killing their abusive partners. Brenda Clubine, a former inmate at the California Institution for Women, founded CWAA in 1989, and the group has since played a major role in raising awareness of battered women and influencing legislation affecting their fate. Glenda Crosley entered the facility when she was 44 and found solace in the group when she discovered that “It didn’t just happen to me. It happened to many women, in different ways.” Klaus looks specifically at Crosley’s case, since her attorney was unable to make abuse a significant part of the defense. As the filmmaker notes, a condition called “battered women’s syndrome” didn’t come into play until 1992 (largely due to CWAA’s efforts). Several other victims also recount their stories, while valuable insights are provided by Dr. Elizabeth Leonard, who conducted a study to determine what led the women to commit homicide. Among other observations, Leonard notes that “just leaving” is never as simple as outsiders think, since abuse often escalates when victims attempt to flee; also, psychological mistreatment is hard to prove. Anaheim Police Chief John Welter expresses particular concern for the children from these environments, and Klaus solicits additional input from jurors, attorneys, sheriffs, and forensic psychologists. DVD extras include extended interviews and discussion. Offering a powerful look at a controversial topic, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy) and August 19, 2008 (Web Review) ‘Til Death Do Us Part (2008) 92 min. DVD: $19.98. Pathfinder Home Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Vita Lusty’s documentary ‘Til Death Do Us Part serves as a kind of after-the-fact defense for 13 California women—victims of domestic abuse convicted for murdering their spouses and sentenced to life in prison—who weren’t able to explain the circumstances behind their actions before sentencing (and in fact many were forcibly sedated during their trial), because “battered woman syndrome” was not admissible in a court of law prior to 1992.Although each story is different (when Ellen tried to leave after 17 years, her husband threatened to kill their two daughters; Caroline miscarried twins after a vicious beating), all share a similar arc, from falling in love, to enduring multiple beatings before striking back in self-defense, to the legal aftermath. In addition, Lusty speaks with author Elizabeth Leonard (Convicted Survivors), Judge Elliot Daum, and Stephen Green, a representative for former Governor Gray Davis, and concludes with a call-to-action profile of the Habeas Project, a nonprofit group working toward providing these convicts with a second chance at a fair trial (the deadline is 2010, which means some will have already spent 20 years behind bars). Although this low-budget documentary carries a warning about poor audio conditions, the dialogue is comprehensible, with the possible exception of a parole hearing. DVD extras include text-only director’s notes and subject updates, two of Lusty’s student shorts, and performance footage of soundtrack artist Faith Nolan. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy) Best, Randy Randy Pitman Publisher/Editor Video Librarian 3435 Nine Boulder Dr. Poulsbo, WA 98370 Tel: (360) 626-1259 Fax (360) 626-1260 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.videolibrarian.com From: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 4:35 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Videolib] domestic violence documentaries I am looking for documentary films on domestic violence, particularly any with a legal or criminal justice angle (not psychology, diagnosis or healing or social work or training videos). "Crime After Crime" recently released by Roco Ed is a geat example which we intend to use. I am wondering about other films in a similar vein. We already have: Domestic Violence (2 part title from Zipporah) Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence The Healing Years Battered Hearts Battered Women (films for humanities) Behind Closed Doors Defending Our Lives A Love that Kills Terror at Home These will be viewed in class as part of a seminar on the topic. I am trying to find more titles to purchase for the prof to view over the summer before settling on the chosen titles for the syllabus in the fall. No movies or fiction films are wanted. Thanks, Matthew -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
