Martha Marcy May Marlene (1:42) 2011

Nominated for three American Spirit Awards, Martha Marcy May Marlene  is the story of a young woman who leaves a cult in upstate New York to reunite with her sister. Martha or Marcy, depending on where she is living, spends two years on a farm in a rural area. She is under the "spell" of charismatic Patrick, played brilliantly by John Hawkes, until her group participates in a home invasion which ends badly. She runs away and lives with her sister and brother-in-law in Connecticut. Marcy has difficult adjusting to life outside the cult, she sleeps a lot but also has nightmares. She has vivid flashbacks in which she has difficulty telling if the are dreams or realities. Her sister, Lucy, is concerned about her emotional state as she is in the dark about her sister's life for the past two years. As time goes on and Martha Marcy's behavior becomes more erratic, Lucy realizes the her sister needs help. Will the damaged Martha Marcy be open to receiving the help she badly needs? Elizabeth Olsen is the star of  Martha Marcy May Marlene  and her Spirit Award nomination is greatly deserved. The film itself is a truly independent film with its small budget, excellent cast and a interesting story.