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Reviews
One of Us (2017)
Another Cult in the Name of Religion
"One of Us" dives into the lives of a few individuals who have escaped the clutches of an ultra-orthodox Hassidic Jewish community in NYC in the U. S. This documentary is not so much a show presenting how this particular cult operates in a delineated fashion, but rather importantly documents the trauma and suffering of those who try and establish a life independent of this "religious" organization. Although it lacks the full presentation of the Hassidic organization from the inside out - cults never do allow full access - its another comparative documentary shared in a way that the viewer is able to glean that the modus operandi is typical to other cult and cult-like organizations. Religion is a choice, and one can (or should) be able to question or leave a religious institution freely at any time without fear or repercussions; cults do not allow this as the viewer will learn by watching.
The practices used by this Hasdidic Jewish community and all other Cults (scientology -particularly sea org 'prisoners' - Jehovah's witness, certain amish communities, - even the LDS* are only a degree or two of separation apart - come to mind) use similar structure, organization, strategies and tactics:
- Very rigid rules controlling daily life
- Allowing a very narrowly focused education and/or skill-building specific to the cult greatly hindering the potential for personal independence.*
- Questioning anything about the cult is typically banned or frowned upon.
- Mandatory or Strongly encouraged/pressured financial contributions, service, or both to the organization.
- No or limited freedom of information allowed or heavily frowned upon.
- The heavy influence, pressure, and indoctrination on family planning matters (from no children allowed to early age marriage and many children).
- Mental manipulation used to maintain control of an individual wishing to leave the cult that said individual cannot live independently or survive in the secular world.
- Keeping logs or documenting private or personal information on a non-conforming member or one wishing to leave the cult to be used against them in the future.*
- Shunning or disconnecting from family members or loved ones when one chooses to or is able to escape the clutches of the cult
- Mandatory reporting of crimes or grievances to the hierarchy Within said organization (no police or independent investigations allowed).**
- Blaming and shaming victims of crime and/or pressuring to get the victim to believe that a crime was not actually committed ("the act was a misperception or a misinterpretation").
- High powered and/or excessively well paid attorneys used by these cults in independent courts of law
- Tax exempt status in the U. S. has been granted to many of these organizations which allows them to accumulate great wealth and power making it difficult for an individual to fight against or seek damages by said cult in court.
- The threat of separating a parent from a child/ children is often used as a tactic to keep a victim silenced or reluctant to ever leave.
- Prosecution of leaders of these cults as well as civil suits are typically very difficult to win.
These documentaries or docudramas that bring awareness to the general public are so important, and will hopefully encourage more civilians to speak out and lobby legislators to implement some sort of legal reforms to allow better protection for individuals wishing leave without risking potential separation from children or other repercussions and make prosecution of these cults easier.
Astrid et Raphaëlle (2019)
Well Done - Love This Series!
Italia47 and Dklecan sum it up rather well. I am in the U. S. and really, no matter English or otherwise, I rely heavily on subtitles, so although it's a bit more of a challenge not speaking/understanding French, I am used to reading subtitles to assist. This series is SO well done, the acting is top notch - ALL supporting actors as well as the two women). I appreciate the exchange of dialogue between Astrid and - anyone really - in addition to the Aspie group meetings which provide so much insight into the point of view that Astrid and other aspies perceive with neurotypicals. The meetings are well incorporated, scripted and directed in such a way that it's not "preachy" or overtly "explaining" but fluidly flows within the context of each episode. The two leads, with whom I am not familiar (due to it airing as a foreign series in the U. S. on PBS) are so well acted and work well and so thoughtfully together. Each episode is unique and engaging and well written. I am really appreciative of PBS to have exposure to a broad and diverse repertoire of European series, but this one in particular is, I hope, continuing for many more seasons to come as I see continued character development and intriguing cases to be solved. I highly recommend.
Gone in the Night (2022)
Didn't Work for Me from the Start
Honestly, Winona was just too old to be playing Kath, the partner to the much younger, and slightly immature guy, Max (don't get your panties in a bunch people, I don't think it works well in reverse either.) The start was far to unrealistic for a couple to pull up to a cabin they rented, encounter two strangers with a freakish vibe already occupying the house, and actually accept the invitation to stay. My initial gut feel was that the two had maybe committed some sort of crime and broke into the place to lay low for a bit. With no cell service available and if too exhausted, my partner and I would have definitely driven off, found a place to pull off and sleep in the car for a bit, and then driven to cell service to contact the host. And then to immediately play an intimate game with this same, strange, unknown couple after just arriving at 10:30pm, naaah, it's just not working for me at all.
Also, I don't know what all the accolades are here regarding Winona Ryder - her cadence delivery is so slow and overly enunciated, she just doesn't have a strong presence or delivery on screen. I really battle hard to tolerate listening to and watching any character she's ever played, with the exception of a couple of movies she was in when she was a teenager.