Lifetime announces casting for the original movie Torn from Her Arms starring Judy Reyes (Devious Maids, Claws) and Gloria Reuben (Mr. Robot, ER). Amidst the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border, the timely film depicts the harrowing true story of a mother and daughter who must find their way back to each other after being separated. Produced by OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America for a fall debut, Reyes, who previously starred in Lifetime’s hit series Devious Maids, takes on the role of Thelma Garcia, a Texas Immigration lawyer who works tirelessly to reunite the pair, while Reuben portrays Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist ProPublica reporter, Ginger Thompson, who broke the story.
Torn From Her Arms is based on a true story, originally covered by the OZY editorial team, following Cindy Madrid (Fátima Molina, Who Killed Sara?) and her six-year-old daughter, Ximena (Camila Nuñez), who fled violence in El Salvador for safety in the U.S., only to be separated at the border as a part of the Administration’s Zero Tolerance Policy.
Detained in detention centers in different states, Cindy and Ximena endured inhumane living conditions and inadequate medical care, but that was nothing compared to the emotional toll of being apart. Their story would gain national attention when a whistleblower leaked a gut-wrenching audiotape of six-year-old Ximena crying for her mother. The onslaught of media attention incited by Ginger’s story alerted the nation to the cruelties being committed against undocumented immigrant families at the border.
Torn From Her Arms is produced by OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America. Executive producers are Brad Krevoy, Linda Berman, Carlos Watson, Lindsay Roger, Amanda Phillips, Eric Jarboe, and Steve McGlothen. Alan Jonsson Gavica directs from a script written by Tawnya Bhattacharya and Ali Laventhol. Originally covered by Ozy’s reporting arm, Torn From Her Arms marks Ozy’s first foray into scripted programming and an expansion of its television catalog.
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OZY is a next-generation media and entertainment company that helps curious people see the world more broadly and more boldly by introducing them to “the New and the Next” – narratives that defy convention, change perspectives, and ignite ideas. Beginning as a digital magazine in 2013, OZY has evolved into a modern media company, featuring podcasts, events, and original TV series with leading networks, including A+E, HISTORY, Lifetime, Amazon, Hulu, OWN, PBS, and BBC. Led by Emmy Award-winning journalist Carlos Watson and co-founder Samir Rao, OZY is based in Mountain View, California, and backed by leading Silicon Valley investors such as Emerson Collective, Marc Lasry, and Tom Franco. Learn more at OZY.com. Follow OZY on Twitter at twitter.com/ozy, Facebook at facebook.com/ozy, and Instagram at instagram.com/ozy.