Watch Lorena

Lorena is a 2019 documentary series from Amazon Prime that tells the story of Lorena Bobbitt, who became a household name in the 1990s after infamously cutting off her abusive husband John Wayne Bobbitt's penis while he slept. The four-part series delves deeply into the events leading up to the attack and its aftermath. Viewers are given a glimpse into Lorena's early life in Ecuador, her marriage to John, and the years of abuse she suffered at his hands. Through interviews with Lorena herself, as well as family members, friends, and members of law enforcement, the series paints a picture of a woman who was driven to the brink by her husband's brutal treatment.

The show also explores the media circus that surrounded the case at the time. The sheer salaciousness of the story dominated TV news and talk shows for months, with many pundits and comedians using it as fodder for their own jokes and commentary. The series unpacks the ways in which the media's treatment of the Bobbitt case reflected larger social attitudes about domestic violence and gender roles in the 1990s.

One surprising element of Lorena is the way it offers a sympathetic portrayal of John Wayne Bobbitt. While he committed numerous acts of violence against Lorena during their marriage, the series presents him as a complex individual with his own emotional wounds and personal demons. Interviews with Bobbitt himself, as well as with members of his family and friends, help to flesh out a more nuanced picture of the man at the center of this story.

Ultimately, Lorena is a powerful commentary on the limitations of justice in cases of domestic violence. Despite the evidence of her husband's abuse, Lorena was initially treated as a criminal for her actions against him. The show raises questions about the ways in which our justice system often fails to protect victims of domestic violence, particularly women of color and immigrants like Lorena.

Throughout the series, viewers are forced to confront their own assumptions about the people involved in this case. Lorena is far more than just a woman who cut off her husband's penis; she is a survivor of abuse who was pushed to the brink by a system that failed her. John Wayne Bobbitt is more than just a punchline; he is a deeply flawed human being who suffered his own traumas and deserves to be seen as such.

Overall, Lorena is a powerful and thought-provoking series that sheds new light on a case that captivated the nation. Through careful research and empathetic storytelling, the show challenges viewers to reconsider everything they thought they knew about the Bobbitt case and the broader issues it represents.

Lorena is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between February 15, 2019 and on Amazon