MANipulation (2024)

It's supposed to be a happy story. You meet the man of your dreams and fall in love. But this is not a fairy tale. Through re-enactments and interviews, this documentary follows the stories of two women who thought they'd found their perfect match only to find they'd fallen for abusers. These men mentally manipulate their partners with techniques like mirroring, gas-lighting, and isolating them. You will see how smart women get sucked into the cycle of violence and find themselves questioning their own sanity. If he didn't hit me, it isn't abuse, right? These men are lovable, charming, and charismatic. They are also abusers. You will see how the cycle of abuse unfolds and the tough decisions these women will make as they decide whether to stay or run. —Z Zoccolante & Lok Kwan Woo