Empowering Women - "Breaking the Silence" is more than 'just another documentary.'

It´s about Five women, who courageously ended their cycle of shame, victim-hood and despair.

There have been many dramatic movies depicting angry and hurt women, who have taken the victim stance, during and following abuse and/or neglect. However, Michael Horn´s "Breaking the Silence" is the first documentary I've seen that has brought real life stories of the female 'victors.' This 66 minute video 'is' a woman´s empowerment tool, to be certain.

"Breaking the Silence" is already an award-winning new film, which has received the 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival Award, and a 2009 Telly Award. The video also features the new song "I'll Be My Own Hero", performed by Andrea Dair. Needless to say, I´ve truly fallen in love with this song.

How does a young woman 'break her silence' and stand up for what she believes is right? At what age do they begin to find their life's purpose? How does the torment they´ve endured empower them to make the right turns? Could it be that they´ve been blessed with more courage and honor because of the anguish they've suffered?

This is my second interview with Michael Horn. I did watch "Breaking the Silence," not once, but twice. By the end of the second screening, I found myself severely disappointed in only one person...'me.' My own torment was being smothered with too much love and over-protection, and I'd always felt my family kept me from doing all that I wanted to do, by being restricted. How wrong and sadly mistaken I was, and suddenly realized the factual difference between too much love, as opposed to true abuse of body, mind and spirit. These actual life accounts will make anyone seriously wonder why they've ever been blamers and complainers for many years of their life.

Produced by Michael Horn and his daughter, Davida, this documentary promises to empower every woman who watches it. The song presented, "I'll Be My Own Hero," was written my Michael over two decades ago, then set aside. So, could it be that his spirit and subconscious mind knew in advance that he would be producing this documentary? I believe so.

I´ve asked Michael just a few questions, to give his potential audiences for "Breaking the Silence" an idea of why it was created.

1. Michael, what made you change the venue for this documentary? You had mentioned that the original plan was to make a video celebrating ´women´s beauty.´ What gave you the idea to produce this type of documentary in the first place, and what was your motivation to continue?

MH - I originally just wanted to make a film that focused on the beauty of the female face. A little voice in my head suggested that I add the line, "Interesting life story a plus." to my crags-list ad...and that altered the whole course of the project, though I didn't know it at first, until I started the interviews. All the while, as I received submissions mainly from women that I thought were too young, I was wondering, "Just how interesting a life story can you have at such a young age?" Oh boy, did I ever find out! When I started to listen to the accounts that the young women were telling me about their lives, I was overwhelmed, even speechless a couple of times. I went to see my daughter and told her about what I was hearing and she looked at me, pointed her finger in my face and said, "Dad, you HAVE to make this film!"

2. Who wrote the song for the video?

MH - I wrote the music and lyrics for "I'll Be My Own Hero"...25 years ago. I always knew that I'd find an appropriate place for it and that it would be sung by a woman.

4. Your daughter, Davida, was in the movie speaking about her mom, obviously your ex-wife, there must have been many problems that you and she had to contend with, regarding her mother´s distraught personality and emotional issues. Could you encapsulate this for me?

MH - Since her mom was basically out of the picture by Davida's age of 10-12 months, I really didn't have a relationship with her past that. I raised my daughter alone then, until she left the nest around 18 or 19. I was briefly married one time when Davida was around 5, but it turned out that she wasn't really a maternal type, just a friend so, so we split, amicably. Davida´s mother was my second wife. The problems were largely because of the absence of there being a mother for my daughter, as well as a partner for me. And, the most painful part for me was knowing that, on some level, Davida must have felt somehow responsible for her mom not being there, despite all my efforts to explain that she was "sick" and couldn't be with her. My suspicions were confirmed, when I actually asked Davida, when she was about 10 years old. I was then able to start to explain the kind of illness that her mom had. This is what led her later, to get a BA in psychology, and to learn more about mental illness, etc.

5. How did the girls in your film meet?

MH - They met in the process of the filming and later at a screening, all but one who wasn't in town.

You can view the preview of "Breaking the Silence," and listen to "I´ll Be My Own Hero" at http://www.breakingthesilencemovie.com/ GET THIS DVD! You´ll be glad you did.

Michael Horn is not just about this documentary, or merely about being the only authorized, American contact for the Billy Meier material, but is much more than that.

In 1990, Michael created "Standing in Spirit," DVD, which is a self-observation, self-awareness method that he has taught to individuals, groups and professional therapists. This is the same technique that Michael was requested to teach to corporate and government leaders in Europe, by a consultant to Princess Diana, because of its stress-relieving and clarity-enhancing benefits. You can find out more about this DVD at http://www.theyfly.com/products/products.htm#workshop