Lea Thompson and Anthony Lemke in "A Life Interrupted"
courtesy of Lifetime
"A Life Interrupted" (Lifetime)

Lea Thompson stars as Debbie Smith in the new Lifetime original movie "A Life Interrupted." In this film she plays a woman who is raped. Then we see the aftermath of this violent act and how Debbie Smith's life was affected and changed. This movie is a part of Lifetime's campaign: "My Lifetime Commitment: End Violence Against Women."

Debbie Smith was an ordinary housewife living in Virginia. Her husband was a policeman and they had two children, a boy and a girl. Debbie was a stay at home mom. One morning her husband Rob (Anthony Lemke) is at home and asleep upstairs. Debbie is downstairs and takes the trash out to the garbage can on the side of her home. While there she is grabbed by a man and taken into the woods by their home and raped.

The police are unable to catch the man and Debbie's life is wrecked. She becomes withdrawn and nervous. Her husband and her children are all left to stand by and feel helpless. As the years pass Debbie is convinced the man who raped her will never be found and prosecuted but then a new procedure in police work is found and it might have an impact on her case.

Thompson is excellent as Debbie Smith. She underplays the role to perfection making Debbie a quiet soul and a shattered one. From her downcast eyes to her rounded shoulders Thompson does everything possible to create a person who is used to being in the background and wishes to stay there.

The supporting cast is also good with each actor creating a small part of the support system Debbie finds. This includes characters that make up her family, friends and politicians. The total picture created is all about a woman who finds her mission in life. She is an ordinary woman who does extraordinary things.

This movie is an important one because of its content. It is an impressive one because of its story and also because of the true beauty of Thompson's performance.

"A Life Interrupted" premieres on Lifetime, Monday, April 23 at 9PM.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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