Vanessa Gullien had always dreamed of joining the US Army, but the dream isn't always the reality. At the base, after making disturbing reports, she disappeared. After a two-month search, her remains were found in a rural area, sparking global outrage. I remember seeing this online, shared on social media.
While stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, USA, Mexican-US Army soldier Vanessa Guillén told her mother that she was being sexually harassed before being killed by a fellow soldier. At just 20 years old, she Vanessa was killed by Aaron David Robinson at a Texas Army Base in 2020.
Director: Christy Wegener
Stars: Joe Biden, Don Christensen, Lucy Del Gaudio
In this one and a half hour documentary directed by Christy Wegener, audiences are told the truly tragic story, which sparked international outrage and a movement of assault victims demanding justice. Since some of her family members speak Spanish, subtitles are available.
The documentary chronicles the family's struggles as they filed a lawsuit against the US military, alleging that prior to her death, she had been sexually harassed. Vanessa's sisters, Lupe and Mayra, took her name in street protests to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., as they demanded justice under the hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillén.
We get first-hand interviews with her family, friends and attorney, and a behind-the-scenes look at her tenacious quest to change a deeply entrenched, controversial and clearly corrupt military justice system.
This movie really shows what a family can do in the face of unimaginable pain. They channel their emotions into fighting for justice and raising awareness to help stop this abuse and maybe save the lives of many others who are being abused. It's so sad that they investigated more than the police, and the family has to search for answers.
The perception of corruption and sexual assaults occurring in the US Military is disturbing. Fort Hood seems to cultivate the worst of the worst and it's the old school toxic boys club, which made it a dangerous place for anyone, let alone a young woman. They ignored the family when they brought up the sexual assault, prompting the family to post it online. Then thousands of people began sharing their own stories in the military, giving many people a voice, a platform, and a chance to make a change. The way people come together around the world to share struggles and show unity is inspiring. It's always a shame that it's under such dire circumstances.
They show us footage of a press conference where they say Vanessa was not sexually harassed, which seems like a shoddy cover-up for her poor policies and practices; they were clearly trying to cover everything up. They said there was no evidence, but there is/was, and they hid it. One of these men who was assaulting her continues to work at the base to this day.
There is no question how this was handled was completely disgusting. The disregard for the life of someone, who was on her base and in her service when she was killed, is utterly shocking. They were counting on the family to shut up and the media not to be interested, but this was not the case here. The family demanded the truth, in their search for closure, and justice not only for Vanessa but for many people.
When Biden was elected president, the family again went to Congress hoping he would pass a bill and help change the Military for the greater good. Historic Reforms: Sexual assault cases will now be handled outside of the Armed Forces. A proud and historic moment, the documentary's ending is bittersweet. We see where the family is now, what they are doing, and how they are moving forward in Vanessa's memory. This documentary shows us the power and influence that people can have and that if you want to move mountains, you can.
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