Lifetime Greenlights the Original Movie “Torn from Her Arms” Based on the True Story of a Mother and Daughter Separated at the Border

As part of OZY Media’s development partnership with A+E Networks, Lifetime announces the greenlight of the original movie, Torn From Her Arms, as part of Lifetime’s Ripped From The Headlines legacy of story-telling with movies inspired by riveting news and true events. Originally covered by OZY’s reporting arm, Torn from Her Arms marks OZY’s first foray into scripted programming and an expansion of their already robust television catalog.

Torn from Her Arms is the timely story of Cindy and Jimena Madrid, a mother, and daughter who fled violence in El Salvador, only to be separated at the U.S. border. Detained in different centers, Cindy and Jimena’s story gained national attention when a gut-wrenching audiotape of six-year-old Jimena crying for her mother was leaked, helping to alert the world to what was happening to undocumented immigrant families at the border. Torn From Her Arms shines a spotlight on the harsh child separation policies in place as part of the zero-tolerance policy and the struggle to reunite families.

Torn From Her Arms is written by Tawnya Bhattacharya and Ali Laventhol. Lifetime and OZY Media are currently searching for a director and casting for the movie.

Lifetime kicks off their 2021 Winter Ripped from the Headlines slate this week, with five new original films every Saturday, beginning this week with Death Saved My Life on February 13 at 8PM starring Meagan Good. Other films include Lifetime’s 400th Original Movie, The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother’s Hunt for Justice with Kim Delaney and EP Deborah Norville on February 20, Girl in the Basement starring Judd Nelson, Joely Fisher, and Stefanie Scott, marking the directorial debut of Elisabeth Rohm on February 27, Circle of Deception starring Diane Neal and directed by Ashley Williams on March 6 and concluding with A House on Fire starring Stephanie March on March 13. The 2020 Ripped from the Headlines winter slate was seen by over 25.1 million total viewers.*

* Nielsen Live+7, P2+ reach (000s), 1+ min qualifier, 1/18/20-4/17/20, Total Day M-Sun 6a-6a, 52 telecasts across LIFE and LMN, 2020 Ripped from the Headlines Stunt featured 5 titles: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer, Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story, The Neighbor in the Window and You Can’t Take My Daughter.