An Army of Women review – shocking story of sex-assault survivors' fight for justice
In 2018, a historic lawsuit was brought against the US city of Austin, Travis County, the Austin Police Department, and the Travis County District Attorney's Office. The plaintiffs were survivors of sexual assault, whose cases had gone unheard by the judicial system. Gripping and timely, Julie Lunde Lillesæter's riveting documentary follows these courageous women as they fight for justice.
The film lays bare the shocking details concerning how sex crimes were treated in the county. In one year, between July 2016 and June 2017, of more than 220 cases presented for prosecution, only one went to trial – and the victim in this instance was male. Testimony from the survivors reveal the harrowing extent to which officials turned a blind eye; even with scientific evidence such as DNA matches, the majority of criminal filings were dismissed, denying these women due process in front of a jury.
The impact of Lillesæter's film lies not only in its critique of legal biases and failings, but also in how it conveys the powerful bond between the plaintiffs. Abandoned by those who purport to uphold the law, these women rely on one another as their chosen family. Most significantly, the documentary foregrounds the psychological toll of their quest. Faced with the callousness of the system, they were often retraumatised as they were forced to revisit the details of their ordeals.
The snail's pace of the judicial process added another dose of cruelty, with many of the women spending years of their lives chasing indifferent officials. Still they soldiered on, determined to obtain justice for themselves as well as to protect other women from being discarded by the state. In juxtaposing the plaintiffs' inner lives with their public fight, Lillesæter's documentary sheds light on the emotional realities that could never be covered by statistics or verdicts.
An Army of Women is in UK cinemas from 25 April.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
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