She stole my voice, the documentary

3 ANSWERS

1. Guest9177
   

   I'm trying to decide if this is a serious inquiry or an excuse for some unskillful p**n. While there is one interviewee who gives the impression of knowing her stuff, The others seem pointedly uninformed, naive, or somewhat inarticulate on the subject. Much of the film consists of interviews, interspersed with very graphic, though quite unbelievable scenes of forced s*x between women. No one puts up much of a struggle. No one cries out for help. No one seems to resist very much, except for some squeaky protests worthy of an S&M site. Submission seems to be the order of the day. The cinematography and composition of the dramatized sequences are chaotic, with 'way too much onscreen. One sequence consists of two, count 'em, two rapes in inset boxes, a background that consists of yet another rape in progress, and a long title crawl in the bottom half of the screen, which is yet another rape tale in text. So, what are we supposed to look at? It makes George Lucas look leisurely!
   
   So... I'm trying to decide whether this is an attempt at a scholarly framing device for p**n, or if the creators actually believe they've contributed something to a high level communication about an issue they claim to be extremely widespread. I've known plenty of people in "the life," and have never heard anything to support their statistic that 30 per cent of lesbians have been sexually assaulted by a person not their partner.
   
   There is one other thing I found quite disturbing; a general demeaning of male sexuality reminiscent of the most strident feminism of the 1970's. It's out of date, ladies. Male sexuality does not seek to "wound." Your association of popular words for s*x (nail, s***w, etc.) with harmful intention is your own problem. There are indeed loving and devoted men. Perhaps if you get your mind out of victim mentality, you have a chance to portray important issues in a way that doesn't present women as the wounded prey of implacable sadists. All of your graphic depictions of s*x simply placed a woman in the role of a pathological man, popping out of the shadows and doing their dirty work. Perhaps you meant well. Perhaps it was a cynical excuse to sell some uninspired s*x footage. If the issue is indeed this widespread, it deserved a higher level of integrity, as well as more competent production values.

   Report (1) (0)  |   12 years, 7 month(s) ago  

2. Guest6690
   

   I wish I would have known there were reviews of this movie before I purchased it. Hoping to be informed on a subject that deserves attention, I was "treated" to poor reenactments with horrible actresses that only degraded the validity of the film. The film was poorly edited and how the information was presented lacked sophistication and polish. I wish more time was given to presenting scholarly information than the reenacted s*x scenes. I don't need to see a rape to believe it exists.

   Report (1) (0)  |   12 years, 7 month(s) ago  

3. Guest4627
   

   Before writing this review I should say that I am a survivor of L*****n sexual violence and a crisis center councilor. As a survivor of L*****n rape, I have experienced both the reality of the event itself, and also the type of responses that come from experts, law enforcement, and the general public. Having experienced the refusal of many to take such a soul shattering event seriously, I believe that She Stole My Voice is an absolutely essential documentary for current American society.
   
   For me, this film is especially painful to watch. Even so, I have watched it with friends and family members who know about my experience as well as with other survivors. After watching this film they have been better able to understanding both what L*****n rape actually entails, and the aftermath of such an experience. It has allowed them to better empathize with my experiences and others like mine, and transformed the way many have reacted to my own situation. I found the reenactments to be extremely graphic and explicit. However, I believe that these scenes are essential in changing the perspective in those who watch them. I believe that much of the ignorance that people have about L*****n rape comes from an inability to conceptualize it or visualize it at all. Seeing what L*****n rape entails is a major step in remedying that issue.
   
   I also want to put a myth to rest. Some have suggested that She Stole My Voice is not realistic, because the perpetrators of sexual violence are "attractive," the idea being that attractive women do not rape. That attitude is exactly what allows female sexual predators to get away with rape. I have been raped by a woman who would be considered attractive. Many of the women with whom I have spoken have been raped by women who would be considered physically attractive.
   
   Rapists, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are not ugly on the outside. They are ugly on the inside. Many are that way because of how they have dealt with their own traumas. Others are that way for other reasons.
   
   I want to encourage everyone to watch this film, and to share it with their friends and family. This is an issue that needs to be brought to the surface. We as a society must work towards increasing awareness of this crime and eliminating it.

   Report (1) (1)  |   12 years, 7 month(s) ago