_______________PHILIP AND HIS SEVEN WIVES______________________

[RTKangaMummy]

TUESDAY 25 APRIL

Documentary

Philip and his Seven Wives

10:00pm - 11:10pm

BBC4




VIDEO Plus+: 73339835





Documentaries about polygamous cults are ten a penny, but they're not usually set on a farm outside Hove. That's where Philip - a former rabbi who knows he's a prophet, because God told him - lives with his heartbreakingly deluded harem. The odd blackly comic moment aside (Philip describes the process of purifying one's faith as "going round the bend"), Marc Isaacs's film is horribly tragic. As the wives weep through Philip's esteem-destroying lectures, we see how easy it can be to manipulate people by using and abusing religion. The drab English setting makes it all the more chilling - and there's a quietly devastating denouement.




.

[busybusybee]

I missed it too, no tv aerial

Which mum was it who was moved out so he could rent her room? I cant believe she agreed to leave her child behind! How old was the child?

[jamsam]

i flicked between this and the micheal carroll doc on five, what a contrast that was!

i had thoughts of waco after watching irt though..and the way the mum who had the boy was placed in higher regard because she was expecting a boy...is that part of judaism???

[southeastastra]

I thought this was completely made up it seemed so bizarre, its worrying that its not. The wife who had to leave her little girl was awful.

This can't be legal! He was so drunk all the way through filming, not ill, he had to lie down at one point.

There was a programme about feminism after it, hope the wives watched that. He's a bit of a David Koresh, worrying stuff.

[wannaBe1974]

didn't see the documentary but saw him on This Morning yesterday and that was enough. He's a freak. What I want to know though is why social services aren't involved. this is similar to the mormon setups in Utah where the men have harems and the children are married off to their uncles etc. Surely this can't be considered a healthy environment for children to grow up in?

[pashmina]

oh and when he was on the radio he kept on referring to the documentary as a "movie"

what planet is he on??

[pashmina]

i listened to Philip and 2 of his wives on Radio 2 yetserday. what a complete bully/w**r.

could not believe he chucks out his wives and they don't take their children, I just wanted to reach in to the TV and give them all a big shake and shout WAKE UP I couldn't watch it all it made me so angry.

he has brainwashed them, but I have to admit, anyone who is very devout in any religeon scares me a bit.

[cod]

shit i MISSED it

[Miriam2]

I've been thinking about those women all day. Didn't hear the life stories of all of them but he did obviously think he'd 'rescued' some of them. The end bit where that poor woman was ousted so he could 'rent out her room' (yeh, you'd really want to lodge there!) was heartbreaking. She was left in a virtual slum and was trying to be brave. I guess they would say they are all there of their own free will but IMO he was brainwashing them into submission.
What an upbringing for those kids. Wonder if they will go to school?

[NomDePlume]

The horses did look v skinny on film.

The guy has a total God Complex. I did laugh when his sister came over and was pi$$ing her pants laughing at the idea of her brother being a self-styled King !

The fact that all the women said they'd leave their kids in the house if he chucked them out (seemingly on a whim) was bizarre. I just wanted them all to stand up and tell him what a pompous, deluded tw*t he is and walk out.

The mic was funny though, and the stuff about 'going round the bend'. He was speaking for about 5 minutes non-stop about this "bend", but he was speaking in euphamisms and bizarre cliches, so by the time he'd shut up about it no-one was any the wiser as to wtf he was banging on about !

[JoolsToo]

don't know why they give him air time - he's clearly unhinged

[mummygow]

Did you see him on gmtv, they have another baby and another one on the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pixel]

I know all this lot. I know where their horses are. They are all half-starved and most of them are in-foal. He knows absolutely zilch about looking after horses and is the worst rider I've ever seen but he advertises his services as a horse trainer and riding teacher. He's nothing but a big con-man and a bully. The women are really quite nice, I feel sorry for them but I feel more sorry for the horses.

Most of the time I was watching this I was ranting at the tv but I had to lol when he was telling Tracy about 'going round the bend'. I thought "you've already done it mate".

[JoolsToo]

poor baby - and poor future girlfriends of said poor baby!

[mummygow]

That was awful

[JoolsToo]

I find the whole thing oppressive - I don't know why I'm still watching tbh!

[mummygow]

this is unbeleivable - Joolstoo I was thinking that about the microphone - he is so f full of self importance- ohhhhhhhhhhhh I'm getting angry

[JoolsToo]

why has he got a microphone? they're all in the same room?

I don't think he knows what love is? He's done nothing but complain.

[RTKangaMummy]

HE IS ABUSIVE TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING

IMHO

[mummygow]

He's cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mummygow]

I havent seen him cuddle any of his children or talk to them. How can 1 person make 7 other people feel sooooooooooooo shity

[mummygow]

I havent seen him cuddle any of his children or talk to them. How can 1 person make 7 other people feel sooooooooooooo shity

[mummygow]

I havent seen him cuddle any of his children or talk to them. How can 1 person make 7 other people feel sooooooooooooo shity

[mummygow]

what's he talking about

[mummygow]

he probably does and chooses who's to watch it that night

[JoolsToo]

do you think they ever sit down and watch Coronation Street or Strictly Dance Fever?