AN ARMY OF WOMEN

In SXSW 2024 doc AN ARMY OF WOMEN, a group of rape survivors in Austin, Texas, fight relentlessly for accountability.

In the film, a first-of-its-kind lawsuit filed years ago has gone ignored. Calling out the inaction of police, the acting Attorney General, and the city of Austin for their blatant inaction when it comes to prosecuting sexual assault. AN ARMY OF WOMEN is a microcosm of patriarchal rot.

“Our society doesn’t take rape seriously.” This statement from one of the lawyers on the case perfectly sums up the failures of our current justice system. Data does not lie. With only 10% of rape survivors reporting their assaults, only 1% go to trial, and of that 1%, only 0.07% result in a conviction. Good luck trying to get accurate numbers of reported rapes, even in a deep dive on Google.

Our Plaintiffs, some unnamed, read portions of their police reports. The similarities in systematic failures are disturbing and infuriating. One particular plaintiff gives the audience a poignant look into the emotional gaslighting of survivors. She still questions whether or not her case deserves to be attached to the lawsuit. “Do you give up? Or do you double down?”

AN ARMY OF WOMEN is inadvertently an ad for democracy. In the 2020 election cycle, the plaintiffs got behind a new Attorney General candidate and advocate, Jose Garza. He won, creating a path for the case to restructure and refile. But as the case progresses, age and experience have vastly different effects on each plaintiff. It unlocks a new level of ferocity for justice for all.

Julie Lunde Lillesæter pushes back the curtain of a broken justice system. The realities displayed in this film are the reasons women collectively want to scream into the ether. SXSW 2024 audiences will learn how close to home this case was. AN ARMY OF WOMEN inspires equal parts fury and hope.

Directed and Produced by Julie Lunde Lillesæter 

Produced by Natalya Sarch, Arne Dahr

Co-Produced by Jessica Wolfson, Maria Willer, Bernhard von Hülsen

Executive Produced by Julia Dahr

A group of women in Austin, Texas, join forces to legally challenge the system that allowed their rapists to walk free. “An Army of Women” is the landmark story of women fighting to hold law enforcement accountable, with resounding relevance worldwide.

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