Phoenix Rising

This documentary is one woman's story of abuse. There is, despite some reviewer's posts, a ten year statue of limitations for sexual assault/domestic violence in California and that was extended from 1-3 by the Phoenix Project founded by Evan Rachel Wood and her work for survivors. It is sad that we live in a world where women must take measures such as these to be heard and seen, only to have anonymous posters attempt to discredit them.

This documentary follows Wood along her path to healing and justice after suffering from a severely abusive relationship with Brian Warner. I always thought MM was a waste of everyone's time, and I'm not overly surprised that he's awful, I mean, he's been telling us how messed up and dark he is (and wants to be this way) for a long time.

I really feel for her, and hope he goes to prison.

This is a documentary about a number of things. E. R. Wood. Her family, upbringing and first career steps. Her relationship with Manson, the treatment she suffered there, and from an opportunistic, exploitive and occasionally vulgar press. How she got out of it, and, after a period of relief, couldn't ignore her symptoms anymore. Then her efforts to cope with them, on a personal level but also by making the story public. And then a number of agendas that emerge from there.

A change of legislation, for example, regarding statutory limits. Efforts to encourage others, to make themselves heard, and a desire to prevent others from falling into the same trap. And finally a wish and attempt to hold Manson himself accountable.

Much could be said about each of these items. Domestic violence. Abuse rampant in the entertainment business, and the constant hush-up due to the each-for-himself mentality and the money involved. Then, having gone through such an experience, the very tough question of what might actually help you, personally, in getting back on track and find some productive form of healing. The matter of the advice that you get, and if it's always good, considering that the priorities of parties joining you might differ. And so forth. It's endless.

Myself - and the documentary supports this approach when making her the main narrator - I simply focused on what she had to say about her personal experience, and her subjective view on it. In particular, there can be little doubt that what she tells is true. The description of the treatment she's been subjected to is all too familiar. Just as the description of her symptoms is. Fact is, you can literally see her still suffer from them right there.

Very saddening. The documentary, and she herself, try to put the entire matter into a broader context, to promote a cause. Of mixed nature, after all, when it becomes about the issue of holding the perpetrator accountable. Yet, at the center of it is still the individual, the pain and the damage. And for us, lots of food for thought, for discussion and reconsideration of ones own actions, as responsible members of our society and consumers of entertainment business and (tabloid) press products.

It was horrifying & shocking to see what Ms. Wood endured at the hands of her abuser, but awe-inspiring to learn how she channeled her energies into helping other survivors. Pushing to change archaic laws with arbitrary statues of limitation is a cause that will help countless victims of crimes. Shining a light on abusers by both naming them & outlining their tactics will help prevent future victims from being preyed upon. Knowledge truly is power.

The backlash from this film will undoubtedly open wounds both new & old, and the path will continue to be difficult to walk. I sincerely hope that Ms. Wood can take heart knowing that her strength has inspired & empowered others. I hope she can heal, live her life on her own terms, and continue bringing amazing things into this world. Shalom aleichem.

So I wanted to recommend this series as being among the most powerful, compelling, gripping, riveting films I've watched in a long time. This film covers the circumstances surrounding and including the abuse of Evan Rachel Wood, and other women, by Marilyn Manson and their search for safety, healing, and justice.

I think this is an important film to watch to understand and see what family violence survivors can go through, how difficult it is to come forward about the abuse, the isolation, the pervading fear, shame and other lasting impacts of that abuse. The abuser creates another reality around themselves to normalize the abuse and render it acceptable to those present, a co-existing state of insanity. Harrowing.