Documentary,TV Movie
United States of America
I Am Elizabeth Smart is a made-for-TV movie that chronicles the real-life abduction and captivity of Elizabeth Smart. The movie begins with Elizabeth's abduction from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Her younger sister, Mary Katherine, witnessed the abduction but was afraid to make any noise, as Mitchell had threatened to kill the entire family if they attempted to stop him.
The movie then shows Elizabeth being taken to Mitchell's encampment in the nearby mountains. She is forced to wear a wig and adopt a new identity, "Augustine." Mitchell and Barzee repeatedly rape and abuse Elizabeth, and force her to participate in bizarre religious rituals. They also use drugs to keep her in a constant state of submission.
As the months go by, Elizabeth becomes increasingly hopeless. She misses her family and wants desperately to escape, but believes that if she tries to leave, Mitchell will kill her. However, she begins to see Mitchell's religious beliefs for what they are – a twisted justification for his own desires – and she starts to plan her escape.
In March 2003, Mitchell brings Elizabeth and Barzee to a nearby town to panhandle. Elizabeth sees an opportunity to escape and makes a run for it. She is initially caught by Mitchell and brought back to the camp, but she tries again a few weeks later and is successful. She is rescued by police and reunited with her family.
The movie is based on Elizabeth Smart's own account of her ordeal, and she served as a producer on the project. It is a harrowing, but ultimately inspiring, story of a young woman's resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma.
