Silenced

A new art teacher arrives at a school for deaf children in Gwangju. He soon realises the pupils have been sexually and physically abused for years by the headmaster, his twin brother and staff. With a human rights worker he takes it to court. The court hands the men token sentences; corruption and gaps in the law finish it there. Hwang Dong-hyuk directed. Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi star. The source is Gong Ji-young's novel, itself based on what really happened at the Gwangju Inhwa School for the Deaf. The film's real effect happened outside the cinema. More than four million people saw it, public pressure grew and the police reopened the case. The measure passed in October 2011, known as the Dogani Law, removed the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children under thirteen and disabled people, and raised the maximum sentence for rape to life imprisonment. It was number one in South Korea for three straight weeks and took 35 billion won after ten weeks, and 30.7 million dollars worldwide. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 100 percent. Who it is for: anyone who wants to see what a film built on a real case can actually change. Who it is not for: anyone unable to watch the abuse of children depicted. The film does not shorten those scenes and does not protect you.