Vittima d'amore

I have watched this movie every time it has been on TV. I find it very heartbreaking that this is more common than we realize. As adults we have the choice to stay or leave a situation, a child does not have that same option. This story is based on my husbands sister. The movie is very accurate in it's portrayal of the abuse she and her children endured. Several things were omitted in the movie, but I am not sure where they got their information. This family suffers from the loss of a sister and mother that our judicial system could not save. Hopefully this movie will open eyes and help those that suffer to find the courage and strength to escape a bad situation.

is very believable in her role as Jessica Cochran, a woman with two children, whose husband Gary has problems with anger, which gradually escalate.

This is a true story based on what occurred in Glen Oaks, and Gary Cochran (named the "make my day shooter"), who shot a neighbor during a dispute, was apparently let off the charges due to his wife's testimony. Another review mentioned character development, but really, we do learn a bit about Jessica, that she has to work at a dead end waitress job to make ends meet. Gary Cochran apparently had some problems with employment, and we don't really see what has transpired.

We do see his rage, and Farentino is chillingly believable. The scenes where he teaches his young son to defend himself are quite upsetting.

John Spencer has a brief role as Jessica (Lee's) employer. Lee Garlington as her sympathetic friend, and Cicely Tyson, as a shelter coordinator for women who are victims. The film is primarily watchable for Ms. Lee's sympathetic performance, a woman who felt she had no options. She does not come off as the usual helpless femme fa tale that women victims are often portrayed as. Farentino also has some dark moments, and was well cast in this film. 8/10.

I teach an 8th grade health class. One of the units we do is on abuse, including domestic violence. I show this movie to my students during that unit, as they are able to see how the abuse not only affects the victim, and the lengths the abuser will go to, to achieve their goals, but the students also see how the abuse affects the children in the family. The movie also depicts how others in society (family, friends, law officials, the court systems) approach the topic of abuse/domestic violence. My students thoroughly enjoy this movie, gaining terrific insight into abuse. It is very much true-to-life, and it was as a result of this case that domestic violence laws were enacted. I highly recommend this movie for all ages.

This is an excellent film about domestic abuse and its shattering impact on the life of a family.

Good acting saves this from a typical "Movie of the Week" fare. I would STRONGLY recommend this film. The only flaw, would be that the love-scenes seem to drag the film down a bit. But otherwise, good acting throughout.

If anyone has any information of the real case, (Were the names of the main characters, The Cochran's changed for privacy?) please post as I can not find anything about the case on line. Does anyone know when this case/trial actually happened?

I just watched When No One Would Listen, and is sadly real life. Everyday woman are abused and terrorized by the man that promised to love and protect them. I was abused by my husband for the first four years of our marriage, broken bones, lots of bruises, a lot of tears. Fortunately for me, he went to counseling, and we're going into our ninth year of marriage. They say sometimes men don't change, and will always hit, but my husband did change, and continues to make up for it everyday. Abuse is the worst thing a woman can go through, and I think it's important to educate them and let them know that there are many options out there. Nobody deserves to be hit, nobody.