This two-part documentary is very well done. Nicely structured and unexpectedly layered, it hits on a lot of topics of interest and weaves them through the narrative with the voices of Ms. Shields, friends, colleagues and ... experts. Mental health experts, feminists, you name it. These voices are critical and provide a strong context for the information being presented. The work ranges from being analytical to personal and connects the points in a smooth quilt of a rich life. As said in the documentary, Brooke Shields is a human being but she is often seen more as a symbol or an icon rather than an individual. People see themselves in Ms. Shields -- a mirror reflecting their interests, needs and experiences rather than actually seeing her. Ironically, the documentary paradoxically shatters this idea and reinforces it. By the end, I learned much more about Brooke Shields than I was ever aware of. But I also responded to the work because of my own connections -- a complicated relationship with a parent, growing up with an alcoholic, being treated as a "thing" on a film set rather than a fully realized person. Perhaps the message here is that nothing is simple. We are all kaleidoscopes. The different colors come out depending on the light. That's one of many lessons to consider in watching this. Brava, Ms. Shields. Keep speaking your truth, woman.
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