Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lisa F. Jackson traveled into the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo to detail how various sides in the military conflict (Congolese Army troops, foreign mercenaries, and local militias) have all shared in common the kidnapping, torturing, raping, and killing of tens of thousands of women and girls. Jackson, a victim of gang rape herself, provides a harrowing view of this appalling tragedy, interviewing local physicians, activists, and foreign peacekeepers who present compelling data regarding the crimes. But the real emotional gut-punch of The Greatest Silence comes from the raw and chilling comments from both victims and their assailants, as the former testify to a heartbreaking record of crimes, while the latter (here, all Congolese soldiers) appear to be indifferent to (and disinterested in) the pain and suffering that they have caused. Considering the fact that the seemingly endless civil war in Congo has long since fallen off the radar of the mainstream U.S. media, Jackson's film fills a crucial information void, detailing the depth and scope of the violence that continues to disfigure the country. A moving, powerful, and deeply disturbing documentary, this Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize award-winner is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo
(2007) 76 min. In French, Swahili, Lingala & Mashi w/English subtitles. DVD or VHS: $89: public libraries; $295: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Volume 23, Issue 3
The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo
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