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Erika (17789 KP) rated Lorena in TV

Feb 16, 2019  
Lorena
Lorena
2019 | Documentary
Warning: I am a true crime fiend and thought that this was so well done. I've also included something explicit at the end because it was really relevant.

Even if you don't know her by name, Lorena Bobbitt is the wife that cut off her abusive husband's man part. Even I remember it, and I was a kid at the time. The media painted her as a crazy, jealous woman.
Originally, that's what I thought too, until I watched a 20/20 special, in response to this special being shown at Sundance. They interviewed the husband, and I'm not even going to dignify this dude by using his name. I absolutely have nothing nice to say about this skeezball, so I won't say anything at all.
This special showed the testimony of Lorena, and various witnesses that testified to the violence/abuse that she received at the hands of her husband. The dude said all along that she was lying, and that she was just crazy. She did end up being not guilty for reason of insanity.
While I might have originally thought she was making it up (I'm a cynic), actually hearing the testimonies, and not just interpretations of it, made me believe her. I have to admit, I cried during some of it.
This is definitely a mature documentary, it shows pictures of the severed dude part, and there was also a barrage of photos of abused women.
The documentary also tackles the fact that women and men reacted very differently to this case.
(Explicit):
One of the quotes from a prostitute interviewed sums it up (how I remember it): Thousands of girls in Africa get their clits cut off, but one guy gets his penis cut off and the media loses its mind.
Now that's the truth.
  
The Lost History of Stars
The Lost History of Stars
Dave Boling | 2017 | History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Lost History of Stars by Dave Boling is a powerful and shocking story about a family during The Second Anglo-Boer War during the early part of the 20th century in Africa. It's a historical fiction story that is inspired by true events. The Lost History of Stars is a story of desperation and hope.

The main character, Lettie, who is a thirteen year old Dutch-Africkaner girl comes from a poor farming family. She endures the loss of her home with her mother and two younger siblings when the scorched earth policy employed by the British during the Boer War burns their farm and forces them to leave in a wagon. Their African maid, Bina, tries to stay with the family, but is given no choice by the soldiers but to return to her people.

Lettie and her family are sent to a concentration camp where the conditions are awful. Her father, older brother, uncles, and grandfather are sent to fight the British with guerrilla tactics. Lettie worries and wonders about Bina and her family. Often Lettie remembers the songs and wisdom Bina shared during her childhood and the history of stars that Grandpa shared with her at night under the sparkling sky.

The story is told from Lettie's point of view. The reader learns of her experience in the concentration camp. Lettie attempt to find the good in small moments. Her more treasured possession is her English dictionary, which she reads for comfort to pass time.

The story switches between the present and past. This allows the reader to understand life before the war and during the war. It give the reader background information to understand the family dynamics.
  
District 9 (2009)
District 9 (2009)
2009 | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
For months the Internet has been ablaze with movie propaganda about “District 9” the anticipated Science Fiction hit of the year. The exciting ad campaign and constant mumbling regarding the film made me wary, it is not unheard for films to lack the luster their advertisements display.

The story takes place twenty years after an alien space ship appears above Johannesburg, South Africa filled with bug-like aliens. These aliens, derogatorily called prawns, are placed in a quarantined slum called District 9. The film begins as a documentary following bumbling cross-species specialist Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley) an employee of Multi-National United (MNU) a private company on a mission to evict the aliens to a new location, Distinct 10. Additionally, MNU is the primary company working to integrate the advanced alien weaponry with our own.

As the film progresses Wikus builds a relationship with an alien father and son while his relationship with MNU, the company he had long worked for, deteriorates. Throw in some Nigerian gangsters selling cat food and powerful alien technology and you have the making of science fiction gold.

One of the best elements of the film is the choice of location. The tension regarding South African history and politics is well worked into the film. In particular, the idea of standing up against oppression, even under impossible odds, is well paralleled.

The film provides nonstop entertainment and solidifies its place as a great science fiction film by providing introspection into the human race through interaction with aliens. “District 9” begs the audience to wonder what is more important the essence of humanity or being human.

One of the best science fiction films since “The Fifth Element”, “District 9 “ is both a thought provoking and engrossing film.