One tragic accident- a sister being shot- let loose a levee of well hidden horrors in a families life - child abuse. I just couldn't stop watching. When one of the girls- then into adulthood- says something to the affect that the sex was not hurtful, but the physical abuse was. It shows how our minds can numb our bodies to that which we perceive as non-life threatening and the physical abuse that is an immediate danger. We sometimes put events into boxes so we can hide them away, that we may continue to live. If we take them out and look at them we couldn't go on with our lives.
The key to the acts of abuse by their father (other than his past) is the powerlessness, and isolation of his victims, but how do you get the strength to move forward after being abused for so long? And how do you let the past go and just live a normal life? I think this is the conundrum that the women are going through. At every turn, the past is looking them right in the eyes. Even the grand-children are reminders of the abuse,i.e., anger issues, the inability to properly care for an infant. The abuse left a big question mark on the actions of normal behaviors that many people take for granted.
I really loved this film because although the women were abused in their youth, as the young ladies are full grown now, they recognize that no one can use isolation and intimidation to victimize them again. They have gone through the fires of abuse - together, and they are strong - together. Because they are speaking freely about it, they know that it will never happen to them again.
The key to the acts of abuse by their father (other than his past) is the powerlessness, and isolation of his victims, but how do you get the strength to move forward after being abused for so long? And how do you let the past go and just live a normal life? I think this is the conundrum that the women are going through. At every turn, the past is looking them right in the eyes. Even the grand-children are reminders of the abuse,i.e., anger issues, the inability to properly care for an infant. The abuse left a big question mark on the actions of normal behaviors that many people take for granted.
I really loved this film because although the women were abused in their youth, as the young ladies are full grown now, they recognize that no one can use isolation and intimidation to victimize them again. They have gone through the fires of abuse - together, and they are strong - together. Because they are speaking freely about it, they know that it will never happen to them again.