There’s something wrong with the current state of things. Accountability is dead in the justice system, and light comments of sexual assault are now branded as standard “locker room” talk by the current front runner for one of the major political parties in the country. This is where we’re at as a society. As the current Renaissance of social media continues to spread, people’s toxic opinions and voices are becoming louder to everyone around them. The current anger towards society today – and it feels like most people share the same dismay – is captured in the new Netflix-distributed documentary Audrie & Daisy, with the most delicate care and attention given by directors Bonni Cohen Shenk and Jon Shenk. Told with the utmost respect to the subject matter, Audrie & Daisy tells two separate stories involving Audrie Pott and Daisy Coleman, who both went through traumatic cases of sexual assault perpetrated by individuals they thought they could trust. The documentary focuses mainly on the aftermath of these situations, from the coping mechanisms to where they went from there, and how the law handled these very disturbing cases. Fueled by social media, the frenzy these cases ignite are unimaginable, and what comes out from these cases signifies some serious evidence of nepotism, sexism and the underlying proof that rape culture is still very much a thing today, if not worst.
Nothing is more disappointing than a preachy documentary, one that spoon feeds you the message and keeps hitting you with that same message over and over again. It can get rather annoying. Thankfully, Audrie & Daisy never crosses that line, which is mostly thanks to Bonni and Jon’s sense of purpose. They had a point with this film, and they knew how to get that point across without force-feeding the audience. There’s no agenda, just the facts of the cases and the events surrounding the trauma. On top of this, Audrie & Daisy uses some incredibly effective interviews on all sides of the abuse: the victims, the family, the perpetrators, and the law that dealt with the aftermath. With an Explosions In The Sky-inspired soundtrack and the use of animation to explore some of the interrogations between law enforcement and the abusers makes for some of the most interesting and unique documentary experiences this year.
It would be impossible to talk about Audrie & Daisy without slightly discussing the politics and discussions this film brings up. Without discussing what happens to the subjects in the film, as this is a documentary to watch spin itself, the disgust I feel for some of the personals on screen made me squirm in my seat with anger, and there is no doubt you’ll feel an utter hatred for a lot of the people being interviewed. The whole “boys will be boys” mentality is on full display here, and makes the case study even more disturbing. How social media expands on the prejudice of these individuals only intensifies the Shenks points. All these points are even more relevant this day in age. With the expansion of rape culture and the unfortunate mistreatment of the victims, there are moments of borderline anger felt throughout this film. Specifically, a certain sheriff will make your blood boil beyond belief. If you can, please see this movie with someone else, as this film will make for some very important after-screening discussions.
The importance of Audrie & Daisy cannot be stressed enough. If you really want to see what is going on in the overly victim-blaming, abuser-sympathizing world we live in, this film should open your eyes to the injustices victims of sexual abuse have to face daily. From the backlash, to the changing of personalities, to suicide, this film cannot be ignored. Thankfully, Audrie & Daisy is available on Netflix Streaming, so there is no excuse not to watch it. At a mere 95 minutes, just sit down, watch, then discuss with someone the topics this film lays out. I promise you will not be disappointed.
Audrie & Daisy
2016
dir. Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk
95 min
Screening At Brattle Theatre on 10/17, 7:00 PM, with director Bonni Cohen Shenk in person Q&A!
