Of Dolls & Murder (2012/MVD Visual DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Documentary: C+
Before CSI, forensics and modern tech
detectives, there were the Nutshell Studies. The first woman investigator who felt that
police and law should be able to think, reason, solve and explain unexplained
death/murders. The life work of Frances
Glessner Lee, to make doll houses that picture a murder scene, through the
usage of incredibly details 1/6 models of dolls being murdered they are used to
train modern detectives to use deductive reasoning, look for detailed clues and
not just kicking down doors and using their guns. Of
Dolls & Murder takes a look at this little-known history.
Frances
Glessner Lee was a pioneer woman in law enforcement, she perhaps wanted more
than a sheltered life and to play a woman's role society, she created macabre
gruesome bloody doll houses that depicted a murder scene. While not the real thing, her doll houses
taught modern police and law enforcement the importance of forensic science and
to have investigative skills. While not
like TV dramas, real detective work revolves around noticing what are the clues
that should be noticed.
This was
an interesting documentary on the importance of police training using doll
house to train them to use their minds to deduce facts on a murder scene. Hopefully not all police is trained on the job
or on the spot, the next best thing is to use fake, but detailed models to
train the rookies detectives. They
however do make a point that detective work is not like CSI in one aspect, it usually takes months for forensics to get
evidence back to the case. It shows how
behind every detective are the body farms, criminally-minded college students
that works and supports forensics.
- Ricky Chiang
