Lorena

We all know about the severed organ.....I was a teenager when the story broke and the sensationalism surrounding it simply CAN'T be overstated. What this series manages to do is not an easy feat....the actual ORGAN becomes the least interesting part of the story. This series explores a lot of issues which are sadly just as relevant as they were in 1993. We get an in depth look into the characters of John and Lorena and are given ample information to draw conclusions without ever being TOLD what conclusions to draw. John Bobbitt is a brute with a long, documented record of abuse against women. He is NOT an intelligent or insightful person, yet I wasn't totally devoid of sympathy for him. Lorena on the other hand is thoughtful and purposeful and has turned her life into a meaningful one, yet I still have a nagging suspicion that she was TOTALLY lucid when she did the deed. In short, this is not a story of good vs evil....it is much more nuanced. Even in todays day and age rife with mass shootings and hate crimes I suspect that this same crime would be just as newsworthy as it was in 1993. One of the Escorts at the Bunny Ranch said the most poignant quote in the entire series...."You have hundreds of female circumcisions every day in Africa but one man gets his P*N&S severed and the world comes to a screeching halt"

I rated this documentary high because, technically, it's editing was so well done; by choice of editing certain scenes, juxtaposing spoken words with focus on different people and actions, the viewer could glean so much more of what was left unsaid and implied. When this incident actually occurred in the '90s, I gave it only my cursory attention, since I've never been a "tabloid" follower. But, the filmmaker recreates here the era, including the politically vacuous attitude toward women's issues even after the "Second Wave" of feminism was winding down, and the ultimate resiliance of Lorena Bobbitt that brought her to reclaim a life beyond being a tabloid joke. This is an important film. I am in awe of the filmmaker for having the inspiration and guts to make it. In this era of #MeToo, this should be required viewing in all high schools.

I remember this case but didn't know the details u til watching this documentary. What she did was wrong but abuse of women is too. John Bobbitt came across as a liar. He stayed on the stand he pushed and shoved his wife and then states now he has never abused a woman???? If the claims of his childhood are true it may explain some of his anger and behavior. It does not excuse it. His past behavior and his deamenor just make me think he's lying about everything he's said. Very interesting documentary.

I read many of the reviews and it seems most of the one star reviews I read seem to be a result of stopping during or after the first episode. I agree with you, the first episode is all over the place. I recommend continuing on to episode 2 in which the style of the documentary finds it's footing. Episode 4 contains a lot of information that most people were probably not privy to since it occurred after both trials concluded.

I'm enjoying it but I loved those neighbors. It's a dark story but there's something so sweet and sincere about them.