Ein Leben in Schande - Die ganze Welt schaut auf Dich

I like film, and as someone who does, I find this an intriguing made for TV movie. The film shows how talk shows are really a lot more mercenary than people might think, and that they often do nothing to help the people they claim to assist. It made me wonder about a few other things myself. There are people in the world who have never gone to 12 step programs for drug issues but who changed their life pathway. This film portrays the concept of drug issues as something completely black and terminal and heroine related. OK, I can see how that works for a film like this. Nonetheless, I have wondered if people are tagged permanently as heavy duty druggies for insignificant involvement. Maybe films like this serve a need but I think they can also fan a fire of grimness that anything drugs are mega problems. I personally think if a person messed about and then quit and never went to a 12 step, that they never 12 stepped I think probably gets them harassed in perpetuity by the proverbial "people who think they know everything", no matter how healthy their lives are in the final equation. Well, that is just my opinion. All drugs are not heroine. This film says they are. It enlightens and it darkens the view at the same time. It is primarily a cautionary tale and it is well crafted. I never see Yasmine Bleeth anymore in any shows or movies so it was nice to see her again. I find the world to generally have an opportunistic view in general regarding another persons success or failure in their life, which is disappointing, and mercenary. Very few people are capable of real insight, and that is reflected by way things happen in the world. It is good they tried to handle difficult subject matter.

Although this film has the air of being quite roughly put together, and the leading lady (Yasmine Bleeth of BAYWATCH fame) is quite clearly out of her depth, this story is both moving and poignant. It deals with the very real issue of Talk Shows, and how they affect the guests. This relatively new genre of TV show is quite obviously very cheap and is hugely popular with audiences, but they have often been attacked for their treatment towards their guests. These people become no more than exhibits in a zoo of failed society - does this help them or drag them even further down?

There is some very good acting to be found in this made-for-TV movie, most notably young Jenny Lewis, who plays the teenage mother who's life is exposed on 'The Howard Grant Show'. Her portrayal of a girl who desperately wants to lead a normal life is moving, and sympathise with her struggle against society dragging her back down. I felt the scenes in the studio were a little contrived, and maybe the director was shy of allowing his cast to fall completely into the situation.

Nevertheless this film will keep you hooked, and doesn't fail to touch and move you.