Woman Thou Art Loosed
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
Spoilers included throughout this review.
When I tell folks that I’m a film critic for a Christian website, they always ask me if I’ve seen Left Behind, Omega Code, and the rest of those “scare ‘em into Heaven� Christian flicks. My answer is always an emphatic NO! Of course they ask why not. Then I promptly launch into my big Christian film speech: The problem with Left Behind and all those other films is that they deal solely with Revelation/end-times stuff. That’s not the films that Christian filmmakers need to be making. There are other stories that need to be told. God is doing bigger things in people’s lives. He’s delivering folks from addictions, healing people from deep pain and childhood trauma, and giving people strength to overcome their obstacles. Those are the films that I want to see. Why aren’t Christian filmmakers stepping up to the plate to tell relevant stories that deal with everyday life?
Looks like my prayers have been answered.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, one of the most prolific ministers of the Gospel in these modern-day times, has stepped up to the plate and created this film based on his book/music album/yearly women’s evangelism conference “Woman Thou Art Loosed.� It tells the story of Michelle (Kimberly Elise), a young lady caught up in the life of the streets who ultimately finds herself on Death Row. Jakes appears in the film as himself as well. He visits Michelle in prison and is compelled to minister to her. Turns out, the crime that landed Michelle in Death Row was murdering her mother’s boyfriend in cold blood . . . not to mention that she accomplished this crime during an altar call at Jakes’ revival meeting in Los Angeles.
Through Jake's interaction with Michelle in her cell, we are shown flashbacks of Michelle’s story. It’s a heartbreaking, yet common, story. Michelle’s mom Cassie (Loretta Devine), hungry and thirsty for a man, goes on a first date with the slithery Reggie (Clifton Powell). Just as soon as Cassie leaves the room, Reggie begins to make sexual innuendos to the 8 year old Michelle. Years later, Reggie becomes Cassie’s live-in boyfriend . . . and those innuendos become full-blown sexual abuse. This plot thread may seem cliché to viewers (mainstream critics have dismissed this film as an overblown TV movie), but the reality is that many women (and men) have suffered horrendous sexual and physical abuse by live-in boyfriends . . . and uncles . . . and fathers. When Michelle confronts her mother with this news, Cassie accuses Michelle of lying, and the downward spiral begins. This spiral includes drug addiction, a stint at a strip club, more abuse by her pimp/drug dealer, and, ultimately, prison time.
The film’s main thread of Michelle’s flashbacks takes place when she is released from a prison stint and returns home to Los Angeles. As she plots a strategy to get her life back on track, she’s invited to a T.D. Jakes 3-day revival meeting. Michelle’s inner demons begin to surface as she hears Jakes’ messages. Through those messages, God gives Michelle the opportunity to be released from the bondage that the pain of her life has kept her in for all these years. By the end of the second day of the revival, Michelle becomes ready to respond to God’s call.
At the same time, people from Michelle’s past -- both good and bad -- resurface in her life. On the good side: her former playmate Todd who has held a torch for Michelle after all their years growing up together. On the bad side: her mother, Cassie, who continues to live in denial about Michelle’s abuse at the hands of Reggie, and also Michelle’s old pimp and drug dealer, who still has Michelle on the hook for $5000. Despite all these obstacles, Michelle makes her way to the last day of the revival, ready to bring her pain and sorrow to The Lord. But just before she gets her chance, tragedy strikes.
Woman Thou Art Loosed was not shot with a multimillion dollar budget and does not have elaborate settings and flashy editing tricks. Who cares? The power of this small film cannot be denied. It is a real story, depicting the real situations of many women across this country who have been victims of sexual and physical abuse. It is on par with Denzel Washington’s film Antoine Fisher which also dealt with a person coming to terms with his abuse and suffering.
I am very glad that film was released with an R-rating. Don’t let the rating confuse you. This is very heavy subject matter presented realistically, but it is not presented in a vulgar manner. Yes, you will see Michelle dancing on a pole in a strip club. Yes, you will see drug use and abuse taking place. Yes, you will see women being beaten and raped by men. But that’s reality! When reality is compromised, the message of the Gospel is compromised as well. God doesn’t necessarily save people out of spit-shined, polished lifestyles. He saves them out of real pain and abuse. Bishop Jakes is to be commended for telling the truth in this story. It’s jarring and shocking . . . but necessary.
Hopefully audiences who see the film will pay close attention to Bishop Jakes’ sermons which are featured throughout the film. His words are like nourishment to a starving and thirsty soul. One of those messages struck me . . . and really helped me to understand the criticisms of the film offered by mainstream film critics. I stated earlier that those critics have dismissed the film as being on par with a TV-movie of the week. One critic even stated that the film is nothing more than “a feature film masquerading as a commercial for Bishop Jakes' ministry.� That totally speaks of the cynicism in today’s society. In the film, Bishop Jakes launches a tirade against just such cynicism by declaring this society the “Get Over It Generation!� Many people still hold pain and memories of abuse similar to what’s shown in this film because of the gospel of this “Get Over It Generation.� We are taught to bury our pain, suck it up, and keep on pressing. But there are some pains and hurts that cannot be easily buried . . . especially those caused by abuse on this level.
A disclaimer appears at the end of the film declaring that Michelle is a fictitious character based on a composite of many individuals. However, this fictitious story is playing itself out in many people’s lives daily. With that in mind, Bishop Jakes has opened up a section of the film’s website to provide immediate help and assistance to those who are suffering from abuse. For anyone who reads this review and finds themselves or someone they know in a similar situation as the one in this film, I encourage you to see the film and take the bold and courageous step of walking away from this cycle of pain and bondage. Freedom never comes by burying our trauma. It can come only by confronting it. Hopefully, through this film, women across America and the world will be loosed from the bondage of abuse as well.
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
Spoilers included throughout this review.
When I tell folks that I’m a film critic for a Christian website, they always ask me if I’ve seen Left Behind, Omega Code, and the rest of those “scare ‘em into Heaven� Christian flicks. My answer is always an emphatic NO! Of course they ask why not. Then I promptly launch into my big Christian film speech: The problem with Left Behind and all those other films is that they deal solely with Revelation/end-times stuff. That’s not the films that Christian filmmakers need to be making. There are other stories that need to be told. God is doing bigger things in people’s lives. He’s delivering folks from addictions, healing people from deep pain and childhood trauma, and giving people strength to overcome their obstacles. Those are the films that I want to see. Why aren’t Christian filmmakers stepping up to the plate to tell relevant stories that deal with everyday life?
Looks like my prayers have been answered.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, one of the most prolific ministers of the Gospel in these modern-day times, has stepped up to the plate and created this film based on his book/music album/yearly women’s evangelism conference “Woman Thou Art Loosed.� It tells the story of Michelle (Kimberly Elise), a young lady caught up in the life of the streets who ultimately finds herself on Death Row. Jakes appears in the film as himself as well. He visits Michelle in prison and is compelled to minister to her. Turns out, the crime that landed Michelle in Death Row was murdering her mother’s boyfriend in cold blood . . . not to mention that she accomplished this crime during an altar call at Jakes’ revival meeting in Los Angeles.
Through Jake's interaction with Michelle in her cell, we are shown flashbacks of Michelle’s story. It’s a heartbreaking, yet common, story. Michelle’s mom Cassie (Loretta Devine), hungry and thirsty for a man, goes on a first date with the slithery Reggie (Clifton Powell). Just as soon as Cassie leaves the room, Reggie begins to make sexual innuendos to the 8 year old Michelle. Years later, Reggie becomes Cassie’s live-in boyfriend . . . and those innuendos become full-blown sexual abuse. This plot thread may seem cliché to viewers (mainstream critics have dismissed this film as an overblown TV movie), but the reality is that many women (and men) have suffered horrendous sexual and physical abuse by live-in boyfriends . . . and uncles . . . and fathers. When Michelle confronts her mother with this news, Cassie accuses Michelle of lying, and the downward spiral begins. This spiral includes drug addiction, a stint at a strip club, more abuse by her pimp/drug dealer, and, ultimately, prison time.The film’s main thread of Michelle’s flashbacks takes place when she is released from a prison stint and returns home to Los Angeles. As she plots a strategy to get her life back on track, she’s invited to a T.D. Jakes 3-day revival meeting. Michelle’s inner demons begin to surface as she hears Jakes’ messages. Through those messages, God gives Michelle the opportunity to be released from the bondage that the pain of her life has kept her in for all these years. By the end of the second day of the revival, Michelle becomes ready to respond to God’s call.
At the same time, people from Michelle’s past -- both good and bad -- resurface in her life. On the good side: her former playmate Todd who has held a torch for Michelle after all their years growing up together. On the bad side: her mother, Cassie, who continues to live in denial about Michelle’s abuse at the hands of Reggie, and also Michelle’s old pimp and drug dealer, who still has Michelle on the hook for $5000. Despite all these obstacles, Michelle makes her way to the last day of the revival, ready to bring her pain and sorrow to The Lord. But just before she gets her chance, tragedy strikes.Woman Thou Art Loosed was not shot with a multimillion dollar budget and does not have elaborate settings and flashy editing tricks. Who cares? The power of this small film cannot be denied. It is a real story, depicting the real situations of many women across this country who have been victims of sexual and physical abuse. It is on par with Denzel Washington’s film Antoine Fisher which also dealt with a person coming to terms with his abuse and suffering.
I am very glad that film was released with an R-rating. Don’t let the rating confuse you. This is very heavy subject matter presented realistically, but it is not presented in a vulgar manner. Yes, you will see Michelle dancing on a pole in a strip club. Yes, you will see drug use and abuse taking place. Yes, you will see women being beaten and raped by men. But that’s reality! When reality is compromised, the message of the Gospel is compromised as well. God doesn’t necessarily save people out of spit-shined, polished lifestyles. He saves them out of real pain and abuse. Bishop Jakes is to be commended for telling the truth in this story. It’s jarring and shocking . . . but necessary.
Hopefully audiences who see the film will pay close attention to Bishop Jakes’ sermons which are featured throughout the film. His words are like nourishment to a starving and thirsty soul. One of those messages struck me . . . and really helped me to understand the criticisms of the film offered by mainstream film critics. I stated earlier that those critics have dismissed the film as being on par with a TV-movie of the week. One critic even stated that the film is nothing more than “a feature film masquerading as a commercial for Bishop Jakes' ministry.� That totally speaks of the cynicism in today’s society. In the film, Bishop Jakes launches a tirade against just such cynicism by declaring this society the “Get Over It Generation!� Many people still hold pain and memories of abuse similar to what’s shown in this film because of the gospel of this “Get Over It Generation.� We are taught to bury our pain, suck it up, and keep on pressing. But there are some pains and hurts that cannot be easily buried . . . especially those caused by abuse on this level.A disclaimer appears at the end of the film declaring that Michelle is a fictitious character based on a composite of many individuals. However, this fictitious story is playing itself out in many people’s lives daily. With that in mind, Bishop Jakes has opened up a section of the film’s website to provide immediate help and assistance to those who are suffering from abuse. For anyone who reads this review and finds themselves or someone they know in a similar situation as the one in this film, I encourage you to see the film and take the bold and courageous step of walking away from this cycle of pain and bondage. Freedom never comes by burying our trauma. It can come only by confronting it. Hopefully, through this film, women across America and the world will be loosed from the bondage of abuse as well.
—Review
—Trailers, Photos
—About this Film
—Spiritual Connections
1 Comments:
I totally disagree with the critic of woman thou art loosed. This was not a good film at all. This film failed to mention Jesus Christ, TD Jakes was preaching in the film, but did not mention Jesus Christ at all. This makes the title inacurate, The film should have been called woman thou art not loosed, because only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can set a captive free. TD Jakes is notorious for preaching philosophy that sounds good but has no Power because Jesus, and He alone is the Power of God.
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