Themes: Mothers and Daughters, Domestic Abuse, Members of the Clergy
Main Cast: Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Michael Boatman, Clifton Powell
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
Plot
One woman's odyssey through a hellish life of sexual abuse, drug addiction, and crime is resolved in faith in this tough but inspiring drama based on a true story documented by evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes. Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise) was raised by a single mother, Cassie (Loretta Devine), who became involved with a cruel and opportunistic man named Reggie (Clifton Powell). Reggie began displaying an inappropriate interest in Michelle when she was only eight, and at 12 he began violating her on a regular basis. Stung by her mother's denials of Reggie's wrongdoings, Michelle ran away from home and ended up on a dead-end road of drug abuse and prostitution, which led to a stretch in prison for murder. While behind bars, Michelle hears of the teachings of Bishop T.D. Jakes and his work with abused women, and writes the noted preacher in hopes of someday meeting him. To her surprise, Jakes (who plays himself) pays her a visit, and as she shares with him the story of her blighted life, she takes the first steps on the road to emotional and spiritual recovery. Jakes arranges for Michelle to have a three-day furlough from prison so she can attend a revival he's hosting in the area; opting to stay in a half-way house rather than see Cassie and Reggie, Michelle reconnects with many of her old friends during her three days of freedom, including former stripper Nicole (Idalis de Leon), childhood friend and hairdresser Twana (Debbi Morgan), and former boyfriend Todd (Michael Boatman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Idalis de Leon - Nicole; Sean Blakemore - Pervis; Ricky Harris - Eli; T.D. Jakes - Bishop T.D. Jakes; Philip Daniel Bolden - Baby; Masasa - Lesbian Inmate; Jordan Anita Moseley - Michelle, Age Eight; J. Karen Thomas - Sheila Stewar
Credit
Will Griffin - Co-producer, Tammy Garnes - Co-producer, Rita McGhee - Costume Designer, Molly M. Mayeux - First Assistant Director, Michael Schultz - Director, Billy Fox - Editor, Stan Foster - Executive Producer, Paul Garnes - Line Producer, Liba Daniels - Production Designer, Reinhart Peschke - Cinematographer, Reuben Cannon - Producer, Debra Jackson - Set Designer, Veda Campbell - Sound/Sound Designer, Stan Foster - Screenwriter, Mike LeMare - Supervising Sound Editor, T.D. Jakes - Book Author, T.D. Jakes - Play Author
Woman Thou Art Loosed is a 2004 film directed by Michael Schultz. It is the 44th film or series directed by Schultz and is adopted from the self-help novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes. The film tells the story of a young woman who must come to terms with a long history of sexual abuse, drug addiction, and poverty.
Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise) is a crack addict who was sexually abused and raped as a child by her mother's boyfriend, Reggie (Clifton Powell) while her mother (Loretta Devine) refused to rescue her. The abuse and neglect leads Michelle down a seemingly endless road of drugs and prostitution and eventually lands her in prison. During her prison stay, Michelle writes a letter to T.D. Jakes (playing himself), who visits her and helps her uncover the pain that led her down the wrong path. Jakes is able to convince the warden to grant Michelle an early release under the condition that she will attend a revival being held at his church.
After she is released from prison, Michelle decides to restart her life. When she comes home, her mother continues to choose Reggie over her and won't allow her to live in the house. While living in a half way house, she encounters her childhood boyfriend Todd (Michael Boatman) and her pimp Pervis (Sean Blakemore), along with some old friends who all played a part in shaping her life. Michelle starts to go to revival to change her life. Her mother is also forced to take a look at her own life and begins to discover the harm she has done to her daughter. Even Reggie changes for the better, finally feeling remorse for abusing Michelle; he and Michelle cross paths at the altar, but she shoots him dead before he can apologize.
The film was nominated for two Image Awards only won the award for Outstanding Independent or Foreign film; Elise and Devine also received nominations at the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Lead Female and Best Supporting Female, respectively. Woman Thou Art Loosed was also awarded at the American Black Film Festival for Best Film.
