Vittima e omicida

I remember my mom telling me a story about a women who was beaten to death by her husband in her hometown in Portsmouth, VA. Folks in the small neighborhood heard the man beating his wife. In fact, the beating was so severe that mom said it sounded as if he was chopping wood. However, it was during the era when people didn't interfere with a man "disciplining" his wife. The man got less than 5 years for the murder. Similar to the facts in the Donna Yaklich Story -- folks who could have made a difference stayed loyal to the old myth that what a man does with his woman is his "business" -- no matter how terrible. I'd like to think we've grown more as a society, however, my perception is that lawsuits against law enforcement agencies has been the main factor in changing laws that affect the abuse of women. As with everything else, it's a matter of money and politics. I wish Donna hadn't felt so helpless, and had taken greater steps to protect her life via the legal system.

but the truth is, no woman should EVER endure this torture from her husband.

While Yaklich's reputation has been marred as having planned this out (to collect insurance money) this does not mean she deserved to be beaten and emotionally abused by her husband. Yes, he was a vice cop; that does not give him carte blanche to treat everyone as subordinate, which he apparently did.

There is a brief appearance by Hillary Swank, as Donna's stepdaughter. Brad Johnson and Jaclyn Smith fit the roles accordingly, and if even half of this film is accurate, Donna's husband was a monster.

This film is educational, and helpful for women's issues. Whether or not the victim received money, in the end, is a moot point. Donna deserved a stable marriage, and instead endured years of abuse. This is NEVER acceptable. 8/10

I am shocked at the manner in which some people view domestic abuse. It seems that if the woman is being abused, she did something to deserve it and the punishment is light. I believe that Dennis Yalkich was a bully and abused his position as a police officer. It is a known fact that he intimidated his co-workers and would stop at nothing in order to get his way. Why didn't others report him? Are you kidding me? Would you report someone who might come and terrorize you and yours? Where could Donna go? 'Leave her child and flee for her own safety'?? What mother in her right mind would leave her child with a monster? The injustice and unprofessional manner in which the judge acted is such a poor example of our justice system. While I think that the movie could have been 'better', I still thought it was good enough to watch on 2 different occasions. I've read nothing but support for Dennis and how he was the 'victim' here. I see a lot of other victims, those who sympathize with those who abuse their positions and take advantage of others.

Unless you have walked that path of abuse it is really hard to say what is rational and what is not. I know from experience that all you do is try to escape and when there is no out because he comes after you every time then your mind begins to think of any means out for a normal life. It is sad when I read the comments of others about yelling HELP etc. because she did when she went to a shelter and asked his friends for help. The only thing to do is to look for red flags in a relationship and get out at the first sign of violence. She should have left when he threw the can at her but unless you know about abuse and violence you have no idea of what you are in for.

This is a typical wife-abuse movie which is well acted. The main problem with this production is the casting of Jaclyn Smith. She does a creditable portrayal-however as an obviously intelligent individual, she has to portray someone who does highly illogical things that someone of her intellect wouldn't.