The Invisible War

'THE INVISIBLE WAR': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Heartbreaking documentary about sexual assault in the United States military and how it effects the soldiers involved (as well as their loved ones). It deals with ongoing unresolved cases and interviews victims of assault as well as military personnel, law makers, family members and others. The film was written and directed by filmmaker Kirby Dick (who also helmed the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary 'THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED' and many others). The movie is extremely hard to sit through and watch and that's how you know it's so effective.

The film centers on a handful of sexual assault victims who are interviewed about their assault (or assaults in most cases) as well as joining the military, events leading up to the crime(s) and their troubles finding justice afterwards. It addresses many of the reasons why most victims can't find any sympathy or justice within the military system and argues that these cases should be handled outside their military units. Often the commanders investigating the cases are either friends with the suspect or the suspect being accused themselves. The film provides many shocking statistics and goes over the history of the problem in the military, which has been going on for multiple decades now. The filmmakers interview both female and male victims (which are frequently raped in the military as well).

The documentary is one of those films that's hard to review and rate because it's not entertaining or inspiring in any way (as it very much shouldn't be). It's extremely painful to watch and it's definitely not a film I can say I liked or enjoyed. That's how I know it's a great film though. It's disturbing, informative and also very emotional. The testimony by the victims and their friends and family members is gut wrenching. Many of those being interviewed are often very open in their discussion of the subject matter and have a very hard time holding it together emotionally. The film feels very honest and genuine above all else. It's definitely a well made documentary as well as a very important and informative one. It's of course not one anyone will look forward to (or enjoy) watching but it's one that should be seen by most everyone, all the same.

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What I saw on this Doc is a National Disgrace, and I can imagine what women and certain men also endure in foreign occupations.

So girls...as I see it, the only way you're going to have a career in the military is to be tall, muscular, have a black belt in martial arts, carry a concealed knife or other blunt object and not be afraid to smash a chair over a drunk's head or crash your booted foot across his face. No make-up or revealing clothes...please.

Never, ever drink in a military man's presence and if forced to then carry a secret empty container in your pocket in which to pour your shots and then off to the toilet.

The military is no dream job and unless you can face the truth stay in a civilian home girl's job. You were accepted into the military because it needs meat to throw to the hungry predators. Wake up and get some street smarts and so sorry. Keep on fighting for your rights, but accept the truth about humans because they are capable of ANYTHING.

The Invisible War not only us educates about the tragedy of rape in the military, about the cover-up of the crimes, but it educates us about the problem or rape in our society. The military commanders ignore and hide rapes and the statistics presented in the film of these crimes are important to note. I can't imagine anyone who actually saw this movie giving it less than an 8 ranking.

The interview of the victims is heartbreaking, and the interviews of those involved in the cover-up are aggravating. These women, and men, who face sexual assault in the military need our full support and the military culture must change. The movie is a powerful indictment of the military and a tribute to the strength of the survivors and their families and allies.

Peace, Tex Shelters

There are a number of things Invisible War does well.

1. It conveys a point of view.

2. It's about a compelling subject.

3. It has sympathetic characters.

4. It has a narrative arc, which is challenging. It relies on the lawsuit and Cioca's disability claim.

5. The cinematography, audio and film making don't draw attention to themselves and distract from the subject.

I was quoted in a book about sexual assault in the military. In that book the author made the assumption there was some golden age before sexual assault was a problem in the military, a claim she offered no proof of.

I mention this because it's possible to tell the story of rape and sexual assault in the military and get it wrong.

This film uses a pretty hard-and-straight approach. It sticks to cases that are pretty well documented to illustrate the statistical picture create by the military's own data.

And the film has a couple villains to root against. The Air Force major general and her civilian predecessor come off as part clueless and part immoral.

so you love your country, you love the military, you are patriotic, and you come from the military family tree, you love the uniform, you love the g.i. bill. when you are under fire, you rely on your soldier comrades to help you fighting back and remain alive. but when you are raped, all these kind of illusion are gone, your whole life is shattered, you suffer untreatable damages not just your body but your soul, your faith, your patriotism. all those you believed before suddenly become lies. the united states military forces suddenly become a huge monster that you would never know how to deal with. these accusations only fall on deaf ears. suddenly you become a slot, an adulterer, a shameless bitch, damaging the military reputation. the raped ones not only become the victims when they were raped by either their comrades or their superior ranking officers. so they are threatened to become a second-time victims. where is the justice, where are the constitution rights and human rights for those who were being raped and continuously being raped? the American government always like to meddle with other countries' human rights but they can't even justify what their own citizens' basic human rights. the American government is the biggest lying and phony entity in the world and probably in the whole universe.