"I knew immediately I must befriend Tim. You want the angry hostile alters to be your assistants. When the devil knocks, invite him in for tea."
    – Cheryl Malmo, Hilary's psychologist

An extraordinary documentary for Psychology courses and mental health workers, this is the intimate story of a woman suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Until her mid-40s, Hilary Stanton lived with big gaps in her memory that she thought were normal. Then Hilary had a breakdown, started therapy, and gradually discovered that — during those gaps in memory that she thought were so normal — other personalities ("alters") were taking over from her.

The documentary opens as Hilary barrels down the highway towards a family reunion. Alter Tim takes over the wheel and makes a u-turn at high speed. Hilary 'comes to' as she's losing control of the car. Tim was one of the most dominant of the 35 alters who would finally make their presence known, a phalanx of inner children who fought to protect Hilary's core self from memories of horrific childhood abuse. It would be the job of therapist Cheryl Malmo to convince each of these alters that the abuse is in the past: it is safe to give up their memories to Hilary and, finally, to merge their personality with hers.

Many of the therapy sessions were videotaped to train therapists in the treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). Remarkably, Hilary Stanton gave the filmmakers unlimited access to 10 years of these psychotherapy sessions.

PLEASE NOTE: This 91-minute documentary is best suited to a mature audience — post-secondary students, mental health advocates and professionals. It more thoroughly examines the nature of the abuse Hilary experienced and the complexity of the disorder.

ALSO AVAILABLE:
A 43-minute version suitable for a senior high school audience.

WARNING: This program contains explicit language and mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.