Bound by Flesh

This documentary is anything but a feel-good film! It's the story of a real set of conjoined twins--the Hiltons. And, unfortunately, their lives together were rather sad. When the film begins, it's near the beginning of the 20th century and a woman gives birth to the twins, Daisy and Violet. However, instead of caring for her girls, the mother essentially sells them and the new owner of the girls, 'Aunt Mary' begins exploiting the crap out of them--taking them to freak shows and the like throughout the UK and Australia. Eventually, they end up in America and by now are the property of the daughter of Aunt Mary and her husband. And, once again, they are abused and pushed into the freak show circuit. Eventually, the girls tire of the maltreatment and sue to gain their independence. You'd think things would get better for them--but it didn't. What follows is a long spiral into poverty and sadness.

Despite being an awfully depressing film, it is well made and engrossing. In many ways, it's like a train wreck--something you cannot help but stare at in wonder.