Child Bride Of Short Creek Details

Child Bride of Short Creek

An early gem for Diane Lane and Helen Hunt. Based on true events, and unnerving for that: 'Nobody ever runs away' from Short Creek. Both these young women consider it, and both suffer the consequences to varying degrees. They are required to portray young women of around their own ages, but invested with a good deal of wisdom and insight for ones so young, which they both carry off admirably.

The menfolk are old and slightly chilling, or young and disillusioned. The 'power' invested in the male elders of the town comes from their claims of a direct line to God, and they interpret and map out events according to their own desires. The women of the town are completely powerless, and are replaced with 'younger models', according to the supposed wishes of the Lord, when their menfolk see fit. Whatever courage, or gumption, the women possess is carefully hidden, and rarely acted upon. Scary stuff.