PAMELA, A LOVE STORY-Pam Laid Bare

After watching the 90 minute documentary, PAMELA, A LOVE STORY, in three sittings, Pamela revealed herself by laying her life out bare for all to see.  I watched in three sittings because it felt overly long and oftentimes trying.  For a friend or a loved one to confide their intimate loves, torments and sex-life in one sitting would be arduous for anyone.  When the person sharing such intimate and personal information is the world renown sex symbol, Pamela Anderson, it's consuming being both exhilarating and exhausting.  Moreover, the feeling I came away from watching this is a sense of melancholy having gotten to watch Pamela from being a pretty girl in a small town to becoming one of the world's most recognizable sex symbols.  There's shame and guilt suffered from sexual abuse by a babysitter and a much older man.  And, there's hardship from having an alcoholic father and an unstable upbringing.  Pam's legendary foray into celebrity came when a cameraman spotted her at a football game in the stands.  Soon Playboy came calling.  Pamela discovered she felt alluring and natural, au natural posing for the magazine.  Pamela speaks directly to the camera as she narrates chronologically alongside photos and home videos.  The notorious sex video and its tumultuous impact on her and her life with Tommy Lee receive a lion's share of the video.  It's worth noting that Pamela made the interesting choice to appear without makeup and that she dresses in loose, shapeless clothing.  This is in sharp contrast to the glam, glitz and flattering shots shown throughout the film.  The stark contrast of Pamela as a gorgeous ingenue and a drab, homebody are startling.   Pamela proves a doting mother whose grown sons are close to her and each  other.  It can be argued Pamela has a love/hate relationship with the media.  I contend she not only craved the attention, she was cunning and calculating in capturing as much attention as possible.  What I noticed missing are any meaningful friendships or planning in her life or career.  The lens captures a candid and dynamic woman whose life has more to reveal than just what's under the sheets.  I think PAMELA, A LOVE STORY is interesting as it folds out.