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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Burning Bed,
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This review is from: Burning Bed (DVD)
Excellent teaching video about Family Violence and the impact that it has on the children who witness. One of the very first F.V, movie made and still very powerful.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Harrowing Journey Into The Reality Of Domestic Violence,
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This review is from: Burning Bed (DVD)
This was one of the first TV movies to deal with the serious subject of domestic abuse, which is still an ongoing problem.Farrah Fawcett proves that she is much more than a pretty face with sparkling white teeth as Francine Hughes, a young woman who falls for a slightly older high school dropout, Mickey (Paul Le Mat), but after she marries him, discovers that he has some major anger issues, and, finding herself trapped in a nightmare of horrible mistreatment, seeks help, but her family and in-laws (whose bizarre denial almost calls for straight-jackets), basically tell her to stay put. On top of this, social services seems all too willing to look the other way. Francine tries to make the best of her situation, she finds herself drawn back to him, and even after she manages to obtain a divorce, Mickey is still able to insinuate himself into her life, insisting that they need to be a family. No matter how many times she leaves him, or attempts to escape, he is always right on her heels, and uses their children as leverage in order to coerce her into reconciling with him. Even when law enforcement intervenes, it does not deter him. Mickey blames his behavior on his drinking, inability to hold down a job, and on Francine, and, like many abusive spouses, does everything and anything he can to rob her of her independence and sense of self-worth. He feels threatened when she even looks at other men, wears revealing clothing, and attempts to further her education. When he is severely injured in an auto accident, he is not above manipulating the situation to his advantage. Finally, Francine snaps. She douses the bedroom with gasoline as he lies in a drunken sleep, and lights a match, fleeing in her automobile with her offspring. It then must be determined if she committed premeditated murder, or if she was temporarily unhinged. The jury's verdict is in favor of the defense, and as people file out of the courtroom, Francine cuddles her children around her . . . . . . People who have not experienced domestic violence themselves or studied this crime may not be sympathetic or understanding toward what these victims experience. There is indeed a string of victims, not just the abused partner in question but also the children. Ignorant individuals sometimes blame or second-guess the victims, typical questions, "Why didn't she leave earlier?", "Why didn't she call the cops?", or, "Why does she keep going back to him?" This film should be aired frequently, and has recently been released on DVD. Kudos to the cast for their realistic and heartbreaking portrayals in this true life story. This is an ongoing and serious issue that still needs to be addressed. Recommended.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Farrah's Breakthrough as a "Serious" Actress,
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This review is from: Burning Bed (DVD)
Those who only remember Farrah Fawcett from "Charlie's Angels" only need watch "The Burning Bed" to discover Farrah was much more than just a dazzling smile and tousled blonde mane.This TV-movie is the one that really put Farrah on the map as a serious dramatic actress when it originally aired to great acclaim back in 1984. The sad thing is, the subject matter is still relevant today, and the film itself is in no way dated. It spans the years 1963-77 and Fawcett plays Francine Hughes, who meets and eventually marries the slightly older Mickey Hughes, played by Paul Le Mat. Though Mickey displays early signs of abuse toward Francine, she tolerates it because of his apologetic nature following each incident, and the fact he has trouble finding work and is stressed by having the couple living with his parents. Speaking of the parents, I found them to be much scarier than Mickey because of they way they turned a blind eye and refused to help and sided with their son, despite his violent nature. James T. Callahan ("Charles in Charge") plays Farrah's father-in-law, and Grace Zabriskie plays mother-in-law Flossie, a backwards-thinking Southern woman who lies on the witness stand to protect her son. She gives a chilling portrayal and was only six years older than Farrah in real life! The final beating showcases Fawcett's acting chops as she conveys sheer terror with only her eyes, and the climactic courtroom scene is also a standout when she tries to hold it all together. The best TV role of Farrah's career came at the end of the '80s in "Small Sacrifices", but this one is a great runner-up! The DVD itself is a bare-bones release, but TV movies are rarely released in the format, so it's no big deal.
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