DVD Review: It Was A Wonderful Life (B-)

It Was A Wonderful Life (1993)
Directed by Michele Ohayon
Narrated by Jodie Foster
MPAA: UR
Grade: B-

Review by Scott Standish

Directed by Michele Ohayon, It Was A Wonderful Life documents the lives of several women who have become homeless. They all had fantastic lives with wonderful families before rough times knocked each of them for a loop. Left by husbands who have refused to pay child support, they become saddled with debt and can't make ends meet.

This film truly makes the point that most people are just a couple paychecks away from living on the street. For the gals in It Was A Wonderful Life, they have to live out of their cars. Simply trying to stay away from rapists and thieves becomes a full time job for these ladies.

It Was A Wonderful Life has dramatic emotional impact as we get to see just how intelligent and charming these ladies are. These aren't lazy women by any measure. Fate has dealt them a bad hand and the courts haven't stepped in to help out. Its a sad state of affairs indeed.

The narration by Jodie Foster lends some weight to the film and over-all, this is a very interesting documentary. Made ten years ago, it would be interesting to see a follow-up to It Was A Wonderful Life to see where these women are now. Also, I would like to know more about the laws concerning child support and how they have changed since then.