Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich

Good movie!

Anytime we get more exposures about stories of horrible crimes is a good thing. The Jeffry Epstein story was always incomplete without his partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell. I don't know how much has been covered about her; aside from this film I have seen only one other. I suppose there is a certain fascination with the rich and especially the rich who turn out to be horrible criminals. Unfortunately, this documentary doesn't really tell us about why she turned out to be the way she was - a convicted sex offender and child trafficker. There's no new information here. Instead, we get laughable stories about her sexual appetite that rubbed some people the wrong way. She was more carefree about sex than some people, so she must be bad. Her father was a womanizer, so she must be bad. Was this film commissioned by the church? Seriously. The only good thing about this documentary are the interviews with Annie Farmer and Liz Stein, the only victims who have been publicly identified. And also "Mary" an unidentified victim. Without these I would have given this underwhelming film at best two stars.

source: Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich

Why are the celebrities and the world leaders like Bill Gates, the Clinton and so on, who used Epstein's and Maxwell's services to exploit minors and to traffic sex workers not named, prosecuted or at least interviewed? Where's the documentary that calls them out? Several high-profile individuals, including some celebrities and politicians, were connected to Jeffrey Epstein and were reportedly seen visiting his private island or traveling on his private plane. What did they do there? Something seems very fishy and it's just sad that no one wants to speak out even though everyone knows something is up!!

It's hard to judge this documentary and it would be pointless to repeat the scenario that most people interested in this documentary already know. On one side, the story itself is infuriating, showing how status, money and power gave both Jeffrey and Ghislaine the opportunity to do whatever they pleased. Can you imagine how egocentric and psychopathic one has to be to think they could get away with grooming and using young girls for their own sickening pleasures?! On the other hand, the documentary touched base on many topics surrounding this case, and while it lacks depth, there is enough details from Ghislaine's former friends, as well as recounts of some survivors that make this documentary a solid watch.

In other documentaries and news reports we've heard all about this general story from the point of view of people investigating Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal that crossed social and international boundaries, unbelievably continuing in spite of police being contacted for decades. Epstein's ending, of course, felt emotionally incomplete since he committed suicide before his victims could have any satisfaction at his punishment. --- Here, the documentary focuses on Ghislaine Maxwell--convicted of crimes related to the entire scandal. She was a willing partner in crime, according to the court. So here, ineffectual though it is, you'd think we'd finally find a point of "closure." A point where victims and viewers both could feel like the story was completely "told" For one thing, the winning attorneys are having none of the earlier attempts to paint her as an additional victim. Which is an interesting journey, since there were earlier attempts to deny Maxwell is a predator herself. They make their case well. --- However, what's STILL missing or incomplete is the full scope of the ripples going out from the Epstein-Maxwell cases. The CEOs, the wealthy, the complicit who need to explain why they didn't speak earlier when they first realized what was going on. (Or will some few make the case that they simply didn't. In which case a discussion is needed on why that could be) Thus, for the limited focus the movie attempts, it's successful. But there's still more of a story to tell.

The extreme mollycoddling of women serves as a substitute for what used to be this country's rock solid moral fiber. Again and again, the so-called "survivors" and "victims" describe the easiest, softest advances from Epstein and Maxwell -- and then jump to the magical conclusion that they are somehow something like the victims of the most brutal, forceful and terrifying sexual assaults. It's absurd on the face of it but of course this sort of vacuous moral posturing passes for normal today. These "victims" were anything but. At their best, they were weak, pathetic cowards -- very much the trash Ghislaine took them to be. At their worst, they were shallow opportunists who kept hoping to find some way to enjoy the benefits that pleasing Epstein and Maxwell could bring (one "survivor" explicitly admits she resumed her friendship with Ghislaine even after she found out first hand, in Jeffrey's home, what they wanted from her because G&J were well-connected in the fashion world) without having to do actually do what they were being asked to do. They just couldn't let go of the bait -- it was just too juicy to pass up. Weak. Trash. Women.

It could be a beautiful continuation of the series "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy rich" but they maybe did not have much solid information about Ghislaine. Documentary switches scenes between 90's and present events and clearly performances of lawyers, therapists and victims themselves! This really ruins all the credibility of documentary. Non-actors perform, it looks horrible, and we should believe them in the next scene? It can't be done! Anyway you can still fill your knowledge of Ghislaine and Jeffrey. Just prepare that it will be pain to sit through a few scenes. For example a scene of lawyers speaking with each other and the camera work exposing that the whole dialoge is cut and clearly staged.

Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat. Presumption of innocence. Just a simple question, where is the other side? Is this a judgement before judgement? Have I read that "someone" bought an indulgence for 12 mil. Pounds? And I must ask, how "filthy rich" Ghislaine needed Jeffrey's money, as it was stated in the movie? After Jeffrey's, more than suspicious suicide, our attention should be turned to Ghislane. We must forget as soon as possible all those, Clinton like, names, and listen to those three years meticulously staged stories, like "yes we knew them for decades and we knew something was so wrong"? Sorry.

As "Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich" (2022 release; 101 min) opens, it is "August 10, 2019" and Jeffrey Epstein has just committed suicide while in jail. The immediate question: where is Ghislaine Maxwell? 18 (!) months later, she is found in New Hampshire and immediately arrested on multiple criminal charges. At this point we are less than 10 min into the movie. Couple of comments: this is a sequel or companion release to 2020's "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich", which I have not seen (I really don't want to know any more about that guy than I do). But when the same film makers announced this project, my interest was a little peaked: what had possessed this woman, at one time Epstein's partner, to become a relentless recruiter and groomer of young (many underage) girls to provide to Epstein? This film goes into that issue at length and offers some possible explanations. Along the way, we also hear from several of the victims themselves, and why events some of which happened as long ago as 25 years continue to haunt them. Most tellingly for me are also a number of Maxwell's acquaintances from back in the day, and the bizarre behavior she showed even then. Several of the victims state that Maxwell was in fact worse than Epstein. Most importantly, one of the victims, when asked her reaction after Maxwell's conviction, observes: "We've finally been heard". Very true. How is it that these terrible people were able to do what they did for DECADES, despite the numerous complains by the victims as early as the mid/late 1990s? Just shocking. Bottom line: this documentary provides a very sobering, if not outright shocking, look at a socialite who decides to become a child trafficker, all to please her (ex) partner... "Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich" premiered on Netflix this weekend. If you have any interest in learning why a woman of means decides to become a child trafficker and groomer, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.