Audrie & Daisy
Audrie
& Daisy is a Netflix Original documentary telling the all-too-familiar stories
of two high school girls and their sexual assaults, both of which were caught
on camera. “The
documentary explores the way both the criminal justice system and society
punish teenage (usually female) victims of sexual assault, sometimes blaming
them for inciting sexual attack, sometimes depicting them as morally deficient,
and sometimes labeling them liars. At the same time, attackers, usually male,
are treated to wrist slaps and benefit-of-the-doubt leniency” (https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/audrie-daisy). It follows the outcomes of Audrie and Daisy’s experiences, including
the abuse and cyberbullying that them and their families were subjected to
after the assaults. Audrie’s story ended tragically with her taking her own
life; and while Daisy is a survivor, she still deals with the aftermath to this
day. Although these events took place five years ago, the documentary made its
world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016 (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/audrie_and_daisy/).
The entire production team of the
documentary is experienced and qualified in filmmaking, appealing to the
element of ethos. The director – Bonni Cohen – for example, has directed and
produced an array of award-winning films at both the Sundance and Tribeca Film
Festivals (http://www.audrieanddaisy.com/about/).
Everyone who was interviewed for the documentary was involved in one way or
another with the investigations, making the information relevant and personal. Audrie’s
story was told from the point of view of her parents, her best friend, and the
two males who sexually assaulted her. Daisy’s story is heard from the point of
view of herself, her brother, and her mother. There is also footage from the
police investigations of interviews with the attackers, as well as other
individuals involved in the case. The appeal of pathos is strong in the film through
the use of personal videos from the lives of Audrie and Daisy, as well as emotional
interviews with everyone involved.
The end of the documentary appeals
to logos, stating the fact that “Teenagers experience the highest rates of rape
and sexual assault.” This indicates that the film is directed toward an
audience made up of teenagers and young adults – male and female. Therefore, it
is shown in many schools and universities because that is where the majority of
the intended audience is found. Who actually views the documentary is not
limited to just a younger demographic, though, because it is important for
everyone to be aware of this issue. The documentary was created to get the
story of these two girls out into the world because their experiences aren’t unique
to just them. It addresses complex
issues associated with sexual assault and gives the public an opportunity to
talk about them and promote national discussion. Some claim that it is a story we have
heard time and time again, but there is a reason for that. There has not been a
change in how sexual assault is dealt with and how it is punished, therefore
the issue needs to be continually presented to society in order to force that
change. By no means has a solution to these issues been found yet, but the
documentary sends a call to action to the audience in order to work towards a
solution. Members of the production team, for example, announced that the
release of the documentary would be accompanied by a robust educational
and outreach campaign (http://www.audrieanddaisy.com/about/).
The majority of the reviews and
ratings that Audrie & Daisy
received were positive. Critics appreciated the purpose of the documentary and their
work towards finding a solution to the way society addresses sexual assault. I
would give it four stars out of five because it has a powerful message and
clearly gets that message across to the intended audience. The missing star is
for leaving the audience hanging and not elaborating on the measures that are
being taken today to address the issue. But overall, I would recommend this
documentary to others and if there is only one thing they take away from it, it
is that “This is not the end.”
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