Domestic Violence (2002)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE shows the Tampa, Florida police responding to domestic violence calls and the work of The Spring, the principal shelter in Tampa for women and children. Sequences with the police include police response, intervention, and attempted resolution of domestic violence calls. Sequences at the shelter include intake interviews, individual counseling sessions, anger management training, group therapy, staff meetings, conversations among clients and between clients and staff, and school activities, therapy and counseling for children at the shelter.

This documentary runs over three hours.  It is a powerful introduction to the topic of domestic violence.  I got it from NetFlix.

NetFlix blurb: "By shadowing residents of The Spring, Florida's largest shelter for battered women and their children, documentarian Frederick Wiseman sheds light on domestic violence and reveals the complications that make it such a difficult problem to solve. Though painful to watch, Wiseman's gripping film allows each victim to share her own horrific story in a way that's brutally honest, as they all try to rebuild their lives while living at The Spring."  2002 196 minutes.

Once Were Warriors (1994)

Director Lee Tamahori's (Along Came a Spider) powerful adaptation of author Alan Duff's best-selling novel centers on the troubled life of a Maori family crippled by poverty, bigotry, alcoholism and domestic violence. Rena Owen stars as Beth Heke, a beleaguered mother who struggles to care for her three children while battling the demons of her erratic, often violent husband, Jake (Temuera Morrison).  103 minutes

Saving Face (2011)

Synopsis

Every year in Pakistan, many people – the majority of them women – are known to be victimized by brutal acid attacks, while numerous other cases go unreported. With little or no access to reconstructive surgery, survivors are physically and emotionally scarred. Many reported assailants, typically a husband or someone else close to the victim, receive minimal punishment from the state.
Zakia is a 39-year old woman who had acid thrown on her by her husband after filing for divorce. She strives to find justice, alleviate pain and restore functioning and features to her face.
Rukhsana is a 23-year old woman who was attacked by her husband and in-laws and forced to reconcile with them.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad left the prominence of his London practice to return to his home country and help the victims of such attacks.
SAVING FACE chronicles the lives of Zakia and Rukhsana as they attempt to bring their assailants to justice and move on with their lives. The women are supported by NGOs, sympathetic policymakers, and skilled doctors, such as the Acid Survivors Foundation-Pakistan, Dr. Mohammad Jawad, attorney Ms. Sarkar Abbass who fights Zakia’s case, and female politician Marvi Memon who advocates for new legislation.
Saving Face follows their personal stories and that of the nation of Pakistan as it attempts to tackle this horrific social problem.

On April 10, 2012 an article appeared in the NY Times on the suicide of one such survivor:
Years After Horror, Suicide Stirs Pakistan.

"Saving Face" is available at HBO starting on may 1, 2012.

Domestic Violence in Films

The WMST-L, is is "a large, international email forum or 'list' for discussion of Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. Over the years, the list has amassed a large collection of files relating to these topics. Many of the files contain discussions that have taken place on WMST-L. Also included are essays, interviews, bibliographies, and other items created and made available by WMST-L participants."

WMST-L has a Domestic Violence page that is a great resource. I was surprised how many films there are.

The Burning Bed (1984)

From Rotten Tomatoes: Synopsis: In 1977, after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of her brutal husband, Mickey (Paul Le Mat), Michigan housewife Francine Hughes (Farrah Fawcett) kills him one night by setting fire to... In 1977, after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of her brutal husband, Mickey (Paul Le Mat), Michigan housewife Francine Hughes (Farrah Fawcett) kills him one night by setting fire to him as he sleeps. She is subsequently prosecuted. Fawcett garnered an Emmy nomination for role in this acclaimed television adaptation of a true story. 1984 137 min

DJE: This is a hard movie to find. Netflix does not have it. I am not sure it is even on DVD -- I found it in VCR format. Well worth the trouble to track down. A powerfully moving introduction to the topic of spouse abuse and domestic violence.