Leslee Udwin's BBC-aired documentary revolves around a horrifying crime that galvanized India. Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old medical student, was returning from a movie in 2012 when six men beat up her male friend and took turns raping her on a bus. She would die from her injuries. In a culture that favors men, Jyoti's parents were happy to have a girl, and encouraged her ambitions to become a doctor. Since they didn't have the funds to send her to college, they sold their ancestral land. Jyoti's tutor, Satendri, recalls that Jyoti also helped pay for medical school by working at a call center. Udwin, a British documentarian who worked with an Indian crew, also interviews one of the men convicted of her murder. Mukesh, who drove the bus, believes that Jyoti deserved her fate since decent women don't leave the house at night unless accompanied by a father or brother. “A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy,” he explains. Defense lawyer M.L. Sharma believes that Jyoti was the guilty party, not the inebriated men who commandeered the bus for the sole purpose of gang rape. Udwin also interviews the parents of the perpetrators, all of whom are uneducated and poverty-stricken. Once word of the attack circulated, thousands protested in the streets. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agrees that “anger at this crime is justified,” while expressing disappointment at the violence that erupted as police and protestors clashed. Thanks to public outrage, rape victims in India are now more likely to speak out, which is a step in the right direction. An ALA-VRT Notable Videos for Adults selection, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)
India's Daughter
(2015) 62 min. In Hindi w/English subtitles. DVD: $89: public libraries, $395: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Volume 31, Issue 3
India's Daughter
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