The Powerful Portrayal of Women in Elizabeth Sankey's Documentary 'Witches' (2024)

Why Elizabeth Sankey’s documentary will change the way you see women forever. This is a truly powerful, magical and empowering documentary that tackles the idea of motherhood and the pressures society inflicts onto women through the lens of witches in the media. 

Elizabeth Sankey is a British filmmaker, writer and musician uses her own experiences from childhood and adulthood to delve into the portrayal of witches in cinema. She uses witches within the media and history to explain her personal experiences with motherhood and mental health. Witches (2024) is a profoundly powerful documentary that explores every corner of womanhood and how strong women truly are. 

Although the documentary is shot through the lens of witches within film and television, this isn’t a lighthearted watch. This is not your simple magical story of witches and spells - this documentary compares witches to the power of women. Women are stronger than this plain, women are beyond the powers of this earth and are able to experience more than we realise. 

Elizabeth Sankey is vulnerable within this documentary and shares her experience with motherhood, specifically her pregnancy are the hardship and struggles which came with it. Sankey discusses postpartum psychosis and its compares to witches, the struggle with mental health and the lack of understanding medical professionals have on its effects. I was truly taken back by the women sharing their stories, I was stunned by the paralysing recollections of psychosis and upset. The women who featured in this documentary were beautifully candid and I can say, as a woman I was utterly in awe of them. 

Of course, this wouldn’t be a film probe review without discussing the films within this documentary. I made sure I noted as many of the film clips as I could, whilst the women discussed their stories and experiences we would be met with film clips from a handful of unforgettable features about women. Häxan (1922), Witchfinder General (1968), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Witch (2015), Girl, Interrupted (1999), The Snake Pit (1948) and Jane Eyre (1943) and more. Each film touches on themes of mental health and motherhood and after watching this documentary it made me want to go back and explore these films again.

As the documentary came to a close I was stunned, stunned by the stories and the beautiful lens Elizabeth Sankey chose to share her experiences. Comparing womanhood, motherhood and postpartum to witchcraft and magic was beautiful. It may sound strange but it further reflects the powerful love and admiration I have towards women every day, women are strong, women are powerful and women are out of this world. We don’t understand women fully, still to this day women are ignored, not listened to and undermined - this series only solidifies just how strong women are. 

I loved this documentary, I thought it was deeply meaningful, impactful and therapeutic to listen to. 

Probe Points

★★★★☆