Cleveland Abduction Explained

Genre:Thriller
Based On:Ariel Castro kidnappings
Director:Alex Kalymnios
Producer:David A. Rosemont
Stephen Tolkin
Music:Tony Morales
Cinematography:Richard Wong
Editor:Henk Van Eeghen
Company:Sony Pictures Television
Network:Lifetime
Runtime:88 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Cleveland Abduction is a 2015 American crime drama television film directed by Alex Kalymnios from a teleplay written by Stephen Tolkin. Based on the kidnapping of three Cleveland women by Ariel Castro in the early 2000s, the film stars Taryn Manning, Raymond Cruz and Joe Morton. It debuted May 2, 2015 on Lifetime.[1] [2]

The film is based on the memoir, by Michelle Knight.[3]

Plot

In Cleveland, Ohio, Michelle Knight (Manning) a 21-year-old single mother had lost custody of her son. On August 23, 2002, Knight was on her way to the court when she accepted a ride from her acquaintance Ariel Castro (Cruz), who was the father of a schoolmate. However, Castro abducted Knight and held her captive in his home. Finding strength through her belief in God and determined to be reunited with her son, Knight refused to be broken down by Castro. Soon thereafter Castro kidnaps and rapes two more girls, Amanda Berry (Droke) and Georgina "Gina" DeJesus (Sarife). These girls too become imprisoned along with Knight. They become friends and fellow victims; treat each other as sisters through their years in captivity.

When Berry became pregnant with Castro's child, it was Knight who delivered her baby, even performing CPR on the infant girl under the threat of Castro killing her if Berry's child didn't survive. Despite enduring more than a decade of brutality and captivity, Knight's spirit would not be broken as her faith in the face of what she once thought would be a hopeless situation was a testament to the human spirit. On May 6, 2013, Berry succeeds in escaping from the house and the police arrive and released the women. Knight is finally given the chance to reclaim her life after nearly 11 years of captivity.

Cast

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland Abduction . Lifetime.
  2. Web site: TV Review: 'Cleveland Abduction'. April 30, 2015.
  3. Web site: Does 'Cleveland Abduction' Get the True Story Right? Exec Producer on Star Taryn Manning & Her Dedication to the Truth of the Castro Kidnappings.