Product Details

• Actors: Kimberly Elise, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Michael Boatman, Clifton Powell
• Directors: Michael Schultz
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: March 8, 2005
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JNRM
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,202 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Woman Thou Art Loosed is a powerful, tragic feature film adaptation of the bestselling, inspirational book of the same name by Dallas-based minister T.D. Jakes. Jakes plays himself in this fictional movie (which is derived from his work with women seeking guidance after experiences of abuse), lending his golden presence in a story about a death row inmate, Michelle (Kimberly Elise), whose childhood rape by her clueless mother's boyfriend leads to one catastrophe after another. Elise is very good in a difficult part, her character deeply cynical and seemingly beyond the reach of love, yet still human. The rest of the cast is also very fine: Loretta Devine as the ever-in-denial mom, Michael Boatman as a childhood friend who recalls Michelle's innocence, and Sean Blakemore as a criminal trying to steal the doomed heroine's soul. Veteran television director Michael Schultz ably guides the drama toward its quiet, unforgettable ending. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
Woman, Thou Art Loosed is the story of Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise), a young woman raised in an environment of abuse and molestation at the hands of her mother's boyfriend Reggie (Clifton Powell); which her mother Cassie (Loretta Devine) unwittingly condones. While incarcerated, Michelle sends Bishop Jakes (Bishop T.D. Jakes) a letter requesting a visit. Jakes agrees to meet Michelle and soon uncovers the painful history that led to her personal demise. The Special Edition includes never before seen footage, deleted scenes, and related sermon material.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Emotional Rollercoaster, Well Worth the Ride!, March 11, 2005

By	Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED is an amazingly successful film. Based on and book and subsequent play by the Dallas Bishop T.D. Jakes (who portrays himself in this film demonstrating quality acting skills), WOMAN is based on a composite of women for whom Jakes has provided counseling in his ministry. He is committed to the abused women not only of his congregation but now to all abuse women.

Michelle (Kimberly Elise is a staggeringly perfect performance) is introduced to us on Death Row with the Bishop TD Jakes making a visit to minister to her. Through a finely wrought series of flashbacks and onscreen commentary by many of the characters in the story we learn that Michelle was raped by Reggie (Clifton Powell), one of her mother Cassey's (Loretta Divine, another praiseworthy performance) boyfriends, transient and live-in, whom Michelle is required to address as 'Uncle'. When Michelle tries to tell her mother of the rape, Cassey refuses to believe her, fearing that if she confronts Reggie that he will leave her - a woman at whose age and 'family' status makes keeping a man difficult.

Michelle escapes her home and takes to the streets with her friend Nicole (Idalis DeLeon) and soon finds herself at eh mercy of a drug dealer Pervis (Sean Blakeman) who requires her to be a stripper and prostitute. She is eventually imprisoned for various reasons and it is with all of this in the past that the movie opens.

Once TD Jakes arranges for Michelle to be out of prison she reconnects with Cassey who is still living with the worthless Reggie, and refuses to take Michelle under her roof. Michelle finds comfort with Twana (Debbie Morgan) who helps her improve her appearance, sets her up with a fine childhood friend Todd (Michael Boatman) and Michelle attends TD Jakes revivals with the hope of making something different with her life. But she is shadowed by her past with Pervis and her loathing for Reggie and ultimately shoots Reggie during one of Jakes' revival meetings. For this she is arrested, imprisoned, and sentenced to Death Row. It is here in her cell that the story begins and ends, but it is the impact of TD Jakes on her spiritual life that makes for a very touching ending that would be unfair to reveal.

This is first rate movie making and Director Michael Schultz has done a splendid job creating the atmosphere of the African American massive revivals, the agony of abused children and women, and the sensitivity of the clergy to those without hope. This film does not preach: this film speaks softly, as in a prayer. The actors are sensationally fine and the emotional ride is well worth your investment of time. Grady Harp, March 2005

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Commanding, heartrending film version , May 25, 2005

By	Nardsbaby "Connoisseur of the written word... (Westside Chi-town, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Cassey Jordan (Loretta Devine)is a single mother that doubts that good men really exist. Especially who want to be saddled in a relationship with baggage. As luck would have it, there is a guy Reggie. Thanks to good old "Uncle" Reggie, Cassey now feels LOVE! Sure he has his faults! But guess what? He wants Cassey, and she's thanking GOD for him!

In flashbacks we go into the story of Michelle Jordan (Kimberly Elise), Cassey's daughter, who has just been released from jail.

In a desperate search for solace. The very cynical, Michelle still longs for the understanding from her "extremely simple" mother. Thankfully, she does have the support of Twana (Debbie Morgan) along, with her friend Nicole, who has issues of her own.

Michelle is attending revival, keeping herself free of those street elements. She has even captured the eye of her childhood friend Todd (Michael Boatman) who speaks of their "innocence".

Isn't it just like the darkness to cover you when you're trying so hard to be the best that you can be? No matter how you try to forget, the loathing encases your mind, heart, and your spirit. So much so that all you can feel is the overwhelming pain, that is steadily G R O W I N G!
C O N T R O L L I N G,
G U I D I N G,
W I L L I N G Y O U!

Can these little girls who've suffered so deeply live amidst that destructive path?

Unfortunately due to silence, fear, and shame generations of women are molested! It is not an easy topic to discuss. Since no one talks about what happened, the PROBLEM then becomes "looked over" which helps it fester into a full blown epidemic! Countless women in abusive, destructive, lives and relationships all stemmed from being closed off with this horrible secret.

SOMEDAY THINGS WILL GET BRIGHTER!

I was scared that I wouldn't be able to handle the frankness of what this heartrending film version of the bestselling book by T.D. Jakes represented. My heart is so full and I'm grateful that I was able to cross that fear out. Woman Thou Art Loose is not a preachy "brothers/sisters you better get yourself together!" type of movie. It COMMANDS all of your attention as well as your compassion for the abused women of this world.

PEOPLE I BEG YOU, DON'T LET THIS MOVIE BE YOUR ONLY CRUSADE!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, February 25, 2006

By	Azlina Abdul Aziz (Malaysia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The depiction of child sexual abuse in the movie is a powerful and truthful account of the devastating effects child abuse has on a person. I plan to show it to my students in social studies lesson as we are studying the issue violence against women. The movie I hope will give a face and a voice to one of humans' sufferings that cuts across ethnicity, religion, nationality etc.