WATCH TRAILER

Life After Manson

A film by Olivia Klaus

US | 2014 | 25 minutes | Color/BW | DVD | Order No. 151160

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SYNOPSIS

Life After Manson is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s most infamous crimes and notorious killers. At 21 years old, Patricia Krenwinkel callously murdered three people at the command of Charles Manson. Now 66 years old, she continues to be demonized by the public and haunted by the suffering she caused over four decades ago. Through an exclusive interview with and never before seen footage of Krenwinkel, filmmaker Olivia Klaus (SIN BY SILENCE), frames a historically irreconcilable story through a complex emotional lens, offering insight into what led a suburban girl to commit crimes the world will never forget. A provocative and powerful character study, LIFE AFTER MANSON reveals a broken woman struggling with her past, her arduous effort to evaluate the cost of her choices, and the possibility of self-forgiveness.

PRESS

"A great teaching tool to begin to understand how, and under what circumstances, a woman could commit such and appaling crime. This film is a must for courses in Criminology, criminal justice, women and crime, psychology and sociology."

Dr. Barbara Bloom, Criminology Professor Sonoma State University

"Using a masterful combination of modern shots, dramatization, archival footage, photographs and firsthand interviews, Klaus gave a fresh perspective on Krenwinkel that allowed the audience to feel for the person and not focus on the act."

Vox Magazine

"This film reveals the unexpected – how the most unlikely inmate could be the symbol of rehabilitation, resilience and survival. Patricia breaks the mold about the mystique of women in prison, to provide an incredible resource that showcases a journey of reflection from behind bars to create a life of meaning, against all odds."

Dr. Stephanie Covington Co-Director, Center for Gender & Justice

"The conclusion to the social and cultural upheavals of the 1960’s.."

The Independent

"...an emotional account..."

The New York Times

"...reflective and intimate, well-shot and directed"

Independent Film Quarterly

"...a masterfully and beautifully shot film..."

The Blot.com

*** "...Krenwinkel explains how she fell under the sway of Charles Manson. A sobering portrait, this is recommended."

Video Librarian

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • DocUtah, Best Short Film
  • Montreal World Film Festival
  • Rhode Island International Film Festival
  • New Orleans Film Festival
  • Seattle International Film Festival
  • Citizen Jane Film Festival
  • Starz Denver Film Festival
  • Tribeca Film Festival
  • St. Louis Film Festival
  • San Francisco Intl Festival of Short Films
  • DocAviv
  • Arizona Underground Film Festival

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Olivia Klaus

Olivia Klaus is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and creative director who believes in the power of storytelling to shape culture and change laws. Her films and digital campaigns have reached millions worldwide, streamed on global platforms, featured in books, and permanently preserved in national archives.

Olivia’s directorial debut, Sin by Silence (2009), won widespread acclaim and captured a broadcast audience of millions on Investigation Discovery. The film went on to catalyze real-world justice by exposing the systemic failures facing incarcerated domestic violence survivors. The documentary mobilized a historic legislative movement in California, ultimately paving new paths to freedom for nearly 7,000 women.

She followed this success by securing an exclusive, highly sought-after narrative for Life After Manson (2014), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was showcased on the prestigious New York Times Op-Docs series. Beyond her own directorial projects, Olivia is a sought-after creative partner and consultant within the independent film community, lending her vision to high-impact projects like the Netflix Original Lessons from a School Shooting and the Sundance-selected documentaries Newtown and Us Kids.

Bridging the screen with the digital landscape, Olivia is currently the Creative Director of Orange Static, a premier boutique agency that designs the digital presence for major releases from National Geographic, Netflix, Amazon Studios, and AMC Networks, among others. Highlighting her lasting legacy on the industry, Orange Static’s work was recently selected for permanent preservation in the Library of Congress motion picture archives, cementing these digital campaigns as a significant piece of modern film history.

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