I Am Elizabeth Smart

I Am Elizabeth Smart is a Lifetime biopic drama film released in 2017. This harrowing but inspiring film provides a unique angle to the infamous Elizabeth Smart case that captured global attention. The film centers on Elizabeth Smart’s heartwrenching but ultimately victorious story. This film distinguishes itself from typical dramatic retellings by having Smart herself as the film's on-screen narrator, providing a unique opportunity to understand the events from her perspective.

The film introduces the audience to Elizabeth Smart, a courageous, resilient teenager from Salt Lake City, smartly played by Alana Boden. The narrative is built around the shocking, terrifying abduction of Smart from her home in the dead of night in 2002 when she was only 14 years old. Skeet Ulrich delivers an eerily engaging performance as Brian David Mitchell, the man who orchestrated the abduction and imprisonment of Smart.

The film, set over nine intense months, provides exclusive insight into the chilling strategies Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee used to manipulate and control Smart daily. However, the spine-chilling events serve to accentuate Smart's remarkable strength, wisdom, and survival instincts beyond her years as she slowly but surely learns to manipulate her captors.

I Am Elizabeth Smart presents a story far from typical victim narratives. Through the first-person perspective, it encapsulates Smart's personal journey from traumatized captive to a brave survivor who eventually led to her abductors' capture. The narrator's voice, Elizabeth Smart herself, provides a real, raw authenticity and relatability, setting it apart from similar dramatic retellings. Smart's voiceover doesn't simply recount the facts and sequence of events surrounding her abduction and resultant ordeal; instead, it projects her internal thoughts, feelings, and emotions during these testing times.

The film succeeds in highlighting Elizabeth Smart's incredible courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. However, it also shines a light on the broader societal issues of abduction, abuse, the power of religious manipulation, and victim blaming. It astutely presents when Smart describes the twisted justifications of her captors and the misunderstood perception of her disappearance by some, highlighting the chilling reality many victims of manipulation and abuse experience.

One of the standout performances in the movie is undoubtedly delivered by Skeet Ulrich, who masterfully portrays the disturbing complexity of Brian David Mitchell. His character studies a man who is at once an unhinged religious zealot, a methodical manipulator, and a remorseless predator. Alongside him is Deirdre Lovejoy, who disturbingly brings to life the complicit and enabling Wanda Barzee.

Alana Boden establishes herself as the movie's emotional center with an excellent portrayal of Elizabeth Smart. She captures Smart's emotional turmoil, resilience, and tactful manipulation of her captors with a moving subtlety that engages the audience. The film does not shy away from showing the harsh realities of Smart's months-long ordeal but does so without exploiting her suffering. Instead, the focus remains steadily on her resourcefulness and hopefulness that are truly inspiring.

The direction of Sarah Walker adeptly balances the dark aspects of the story with its inspiring elements, allowing the film to approach its subject matter both sensitively and effectively. Excellent cinematography combines with the atmospheric score to create a tense yet respectful atmosphere that enhances the narrative's potency.

I Am Elizabeth Smart is more than simply a recollection of the traumatic events that transpired over nine months; it is a tribute to courage, resistance and survival. The presence and input of Smart herself in the film serve to amplify the authenticity, providing a poignant resonance that strikes a chord within viewers. It's not just a story about a young girl who was abducted, but it's also the powerful story of an individual who, despite all odds, managed to turn a horrific situation into an empowering event. Overall, the performance, direction, and storytelling form a poignant narrative that will stay with viewers long after the movie ends.