TYLER, Texas — A movie based on a book written by an East Texas native is shedding new light on the issue of domestic violence.
"It Ends With Us" was released in theaters in America on Friday, Aug. 9. The film is based on Sulphur Springs native Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel of the same name.
The book's story is based on the relationship between her mother and father and depicts Lily Bloom's relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid and the physical abusive she endures.
Workers at the East Texas Crisis Center say the movie provides an opportunity to examine what intimate partner relationships looks like.
ETCC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Jeremy Flowers said the more people who become educated and aware about domestic violence, the more signs of domestic abuse can be identified.
"It’s important for us as a community to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and intimate partner violence, because domestic violence doesn't look only one way," Flowers said. "For every survivor, there's a story behind that. For every survivor, there's an experience behind that, and not all of them look the same."
He said the movie gives just one example of one person's experience.
"And we can take that and we can learn from that, and we can raise awareness and we can offer (help)," Flowers said.
The East Texas Crisis Center provides emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy and support groups for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. The center serves Smith, Henderson, Van Zandt, Wood and Rains counties.
ETCC has a 24/7 hotline with trained staff available to provide emotional support and to help rebuild lives. That number is 800-333-0358.