I AM ELIZABETH SMART

US/Canada, 2017, 88 minutes, Colour.

Alana Boden, Skeet Ulrich, Deirdre Lovejoy. Narrated by Elizabeth Smart.

Directed by Sarah Walker.

This is a dramatisation of an abduction case, 2002. The young girl abducted was Elizabeth Smart. She is portrayed in this film by actress Alana Boden, but the actual Elizabeth Smart is the narrator of the film and appears, visually, throughout the film, making some comments on her experience and explaining why she acted – or did not act – as she did.

The film sets up the situation, introducing us to Elizabeth, to her parents and family.

The abduction is shocking but the abductor is even more shocking, a religious maniac played by Skeet Ulrich. He has a disciple whom he has brainwashed, a vicious woman played by Deirdre Lovejoy.

A lot of the action focuses on the brutal treatment of Elizabeth, physical torture, sexual violation, hunger and thirst, attempted religious brainwashing. In the film spends a great deal on the character of the abductor and his associate, their mad mutual dependency, the irrational behaviour.

There are also episodes when the two bring Elizabeth into the city, having control over her. However, she ultimately contrives her escape.

This is the kind of story that appears on Crime Investigation channels – but here, it is dramatised within 90 minutes for the audience to understand the ordeal and the consequences.

1. True story? Narrated by Elizabeth Smart herself? The information in the aftermath, her campaigning, her foundation?
2. 2002, the setting, the family, family life, Elizabeth at 14? In her room at night, Mitchell coming in, the abduction? The later recollections about Mitchell seeing her? The plan for her abduction?
3. Elizabeth Smart, appearing on screen, the narration, her explanation of the situations, the explanations about her reactions?
4. Mitchell, background, religious mania, quoting the Scriptures, seeing himself as specially chosen, a kind of Messiah, his robes, long hair and beard, Old Testament image? Wanda as his associate, first wife, wearing the robes? Her background story, conversion, following Mitchell?
5. The indication of days passing and their effect? Almost a year?
6. Mitchell, his power, religious words, his hold over Wanda and Elizabeth? The sexual motivation? The rapes, continuous over the months?
7. The way of life, out in the woods, the tense, warding off visitors? The search for Elizabeth, the helicopter overhead? Even in the city and the detective asking questions?
8. The way of life, servitude, patriarchal, sexual? The need for food, water? Work?
9. The decision to move, travelling from Utah through Nevada, to San Diego, living in the mountains, the hardships, the search for water? Mitchell going into the town, bringing food, sometimes not, the starvation? His saying he was in prison for a week?
10. Elizabeth, the clothes, the hood and the veil, going into the city, trying to indicate with her eyes? Seen as eccentric but religious?
11. Mitchell, his double standards, going to the parties, the denunciations? His convictions about God speaking to him? Wanda’s support? Wanda and her treatment of Elizabeth? Jealousies, cruelty? Elizabeth offering to help, meals?
12. The return to Salt Lake City, the police, taking Elizabeth, reunited with her family, Mitchell and his prison sentence, Wanda and jail?

The true life story designed as a cautionary warning tale?