Invisible Scars

Johnna Janis's documentary—co-directed by Sergio Myers—chronicles Janis's personal struggle to come to terms with longstanding emotional trauma stemming from being sexually abused by her father. Drawing on home movies and photos, Janis not only recounts her horrifying childhood experience, but also reflects on the subsequent toll it took on her adult life—until she was challenged by another victim to face her memories and work to free herself from their debilitating effects. Janis also means to use her story as a springboard to bring about broader public recognition of the epidemic of child sexual abuse, and to promote efforts at prevention and intervention. Towards that end, Invisible Scars includes interviews with clinical experts who share statistical data and treatment advice. Janis is also actively involved in efforts to encourage other survivors to break their silence—excerpts here from group therapy sessions present moving evidence of the pain that childhood abuse has caused and the determination required to keep it from dominating one's life. Unfortunately, the documentary is somewhat repetitive, while some elements of Janis's personal story—such as her devotion to competitive running as a means of dealing with her trauma—feel protracted. Overall, however, the film succeeds in personalizing a major societal problem that is too often treated in merely abstract terms. Extras include extended interviews and text bios of Janis and Myers. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)