Searching For Angela Shelton

[Sqweak]

This film popped up in my Netflix queue a few months ago after watching another rape survivor documentary. At first I didn't think I was going to make it through the first 60 seconds, let alone a whole hour of rape survivor stories. But it turned out to be a very powerful and moving film and I highly suggest it to anyone who thinks they can make it through to the end; because it's well worth it.

In the uplifting and multiple award-winning documentary, Searching for Angela Shelton, filmmaker Angela Shelton drives around the United States surveying other Angela Sheltons. She discovers that 24 out of the 40 Angela Sheltons she speaks to are survivors of rape, childhood sexual abuse and/or domestic violence. (The number jumped to 28 out of 40 when 4 more Angelas broke their silence after the movie was completed.) On her journey the filmmaker meets an Angela Shelton who tracks sexual predators and lives in the same town as the filmmaker's father, who sexually abused her and her siblings for years.
Angela Shelton's survey of women becomes a journey of self-discovery during which she decides to finally confront her own past and her abusive father - on Father's Day. The Angela Sheltons complete the journey by teaching the filmmaker about healing, faith and the power of the human spirit, no matter what your name is.
-searchingforangelashelton.com

Click me! [DLMURL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-zRe2voQoo&feature=related"]Searching for Angela Shelton Trailer[/DLMURL]

 

[Nyx]

It can be streamed online [DLMURL="http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/searching_for_angela_shelton/"]here[/DLMURL]. It is very difficult to watch, but as sqweak said, powerful. I have stopped twice since I began streaming it (and I'm only at minute 18), but I plan to see it 'till the end. If it doesn't teach me anything, it will at least help me unleash some emotion. One way or the other, I can feel it is a movie worth watching.

 

[Sqweak]

i hope you like the film, If anything the overwhelming amount of emotion released while watching the film really felt good. And the over all message of the film is great, Please tell me what you think after watching it I would love to talk about the film and hear your thoughts.

 

[Nyx]

I will share once I finish it :) I didn't finish seeing it yesterday, but I think tonight I will. The part I find the saddest is the "anonymous Angela"... There are so many of us that feel like that in the beginning ("I am nothing") and it's so sad to me when I know that there still are people who don't know they can heal and that they deserve to...

 

[Sqweak]

Okay :)

I agree the anonymous angela breaks my heart. there is another anonymous story that is just terrible and it breaks me down every time I hear it but I wouldn't ever skip over it because I relate to her story so much.

 

[Nyx]

I don't think I will finish it any time soon. It's too much to handle right now. But I thank you for sharing this, it will definitely help me at one point.

 

[cherryblossom]

Thanks for the 'streaming link' Nyx.

I started watching it, just to see what it was all about, and I was hooked. I have missed my dinner, and some of my favourite TV shows, because I just couldn't stop watching!

Thanks for the link Squeak.

While the stories are heart wrenching, there is such a positive message in this film. It's pretty awesome. There's some horrifying statistics too, but the theme over all, by the end is one of hope. It shows such amazingly strong women, who all share the same message of hope, and strength, and determination to overcome.

My heart was breaking when her Father would not take responsibilities for his actions. I have no idea how she kept her cool when she was with him. I also found her anger and torment following that to be pretty harrowing. But she faced him, and that's what she needed to do.

Amazing film, that will make you cry sad tears, and happy ones, and will give you the courage to keep fighting.

 

[CarrotHead]

It still amazes me that someone can have such a profound impact on a child's life, and serve so little time.

 

[cherryblossom]

If I recall correctly, None of the perps of the Angela Sheltons spent any time in prison for their offences against the 'angela's'

 

[CarrotHead]

That is correct.

 

[Muzikluvr]

I caught the end of this film once and I have often thought of making my own documentary. It is inspiring and inclusive in a way that makes the world a little smaller and more connected. We often think our experiences are isolated events, that maybe no one cares or has a stake in what happens in our lives, but the truth is that we are all interrelated and what happens to one of us happens to all of us. When a child is victimized and the abuser goes free, our whole society suffers for it as victim upon victim accumulates. Victims and Witnesses protect themselves with denial and we lose out on a justice system that responds properly to the crimes against us.

That's what makes telling our stories so valuable, whether in a documentary or on this forum, or elsewhere.

 

[Sqweak]

If I recall correctly, None of the perps of the Angela Sheltons spent any time in prison for their offences against the 'angela's'

You're right none of them served time, how horrible is it that so many people get away with ruining someones life and continue to happily live theirs. but it's so empowering to see how these women continue to live strong. I absolutely love this film. I'm so glad you watched it <3