Despite her harsh critiques, Martha admitted to the outlet that she did approve of the film’s first half. She also said the feedback she’s received from female audiences has been a particular source of pride.
“So many girls have already told me—young women—that watching it gave them a strength that they didn’t know they had,” she shared. “And that’s the thing I like most about the documentary. It really shows a strong woman standing up for herself and living through horror as well as some huge success.”
While R.J. has not responded publicly to Martha’s remarks, he previously discussed savoring the chance to help chronicle her life.
“I started reading about Martha,” he told Tudum, “and the more I did, the more it became clear to me that she was a complex person filled with so many conflicts and contradictions. And the more I learned about her, the more excited I became about the possibility of digging deeper into her story.”
The filmmaker also went on to celebrate the release of the film on social media.
“MARTHA streaming now on Netflix,” he wrote in an Instagram post Oct. 30. “So proud of this film and so grateful to the amazing team who made it!”
