From Academy Award nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (The Invisible War) comes this examination of the epidemic of sexual assault on college and university campuses all across the United States. One in five women on U.S. college campuses experience sexual assaults, however very few are willing to report them, due to inaction and victim blaming from both the administration and legal authorities. Some of the survivors of sexual assault, such as University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students Andrea Pino and Annie Clark, become fed up at this campus rape culture and decide to take action into their own hands. The Hunting Ground can be seen as a de facto follow-up of sorts to Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering’s Oscar-nominated 2012 documentary The Invisible War. While the previous film focused upon sexual assaults within the military, this film moves the focus to college and university campuses. A similarity between both films is the disturbing trend of blaming the victim and protecting the perpetrator. The reason given by the administrators of Colleges and Universities for their inaction and/or victim blaming is that they want to limit the number of false reports. When a perpetrator of a sexual assault does receive punishment, it is often equated to little more than a slap on the wrist. Because of this culture of victim blaming and inaction, some of the survivors of sexual assault have decided to take action in their own hands. The Hunting Ground follows University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students, turned activists, Andrea Pino and Annie Clark as they fight back against this rape culture. Altogether, The Hunting Ground is a very affecting documentary about the epidemic of sexual assaults on college and university campuses in the United States and how this culture of inaction and victim blaming must come to an end. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | LOVED IT Screenings:
- Thursday, March 5, 6:45 PM – Bloor Hot Docs Cinema