In this well-done film, Author Genevieve Davis, uses all of her artistic talents to tell the story of her father's dysfunctional family; mainly the misadventures of her grandmother, Minnie, based on her book, SECRET LIFE/SECRET DEATH. Genevieve researched well the historical trail of Minnie's misadventure; her "Secret Life."
Using what she learned, Genevieve presents this poignant docudrama; a wonderful combination of voice over, interviews, creative film techniques, old pictures from the era and dramatized moments brought to life in a very artistic way that serves the story.
This artistic endeavor is an interesting trip through the history of Ms. Davis's father side of the family; an immigrant story that started off full of hope and promise. A married, newly immigrant couple set up a successful sewing and clothes altering business, in their new homeland; Wisconsin.
A lot of their customers were women. Uh Oh. Perhaps to deal with personal issues, Minnie's father turned to sex; showing a "weakness for the ladies" which resulted in being kicked out of the family house. Minnie's mother did take him back, but he turned to drinking instead. His children grew up with an alcoholic father. Trouble followed for his daughter, Minnie.
Minnie fell for a young man with a nice smile and friendly manners, hoping to marry him. He said the right words and Minnie became pregnant and the man went into hiding. She kept her baby, and endured an even more unhappy home life with her unforgiving father.
Apparently, she jumped into the frying pan into the fire, when she took up an offer for work in Chicago, believing everything an Italian boy friend told her. This choice started her "Secret Life."
This FILM would be an enhancement for studies in psychology that examine the effects of dysfunctional families,underworld Chicago:1920s', women studies and a class that studies how to use a variety of ways to tell a story on film. It may be a little long for some, but this personal, artistic docudrama is well worth the time.