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The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo
A film by Lisa F. Jackson
2007, 76 minutes, Color, VHS/DVD, French, Swahili, Lingala, Mashi, Subtitled
Order No. W08930

Winner of the Sundance Special Jury Prize in Documentary, this extraordinary film, shot in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), shatters the silence that surrounds the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Many tens of thousands of women and girls have been systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army. A survivor of gang rape herself, Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker Lisa F. Jackson travels through the DRC to understand what is happening and why.
Produced in association with HBO Documentary Films and the Fledgling Fund, this film features interviews with activists, peacekeepers, physicians, and even – chillingly – the indifferent rapists who are soldiers of the Congolese Army. Harrowing moments of the film come as dozens of survivors recount their stories with an honesty and immediacy that is pulverizing in its intimacy and detail, but this powerful film also provides inspiring examples of resiliency, resistance, courage and grace.
AWARDS, FESTIVALS, & SCREENINGS

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Sundance FF, Special Jury Prize: Documentary |
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London Human Rights Watch FF, Best of Fest |
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Roma Independent FF, Best Documentary |
- One World Int’l Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Prague
- San Francisco Human Rights Watch Int’l Film Festival
- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
- London Human Rights Watch Int’l Film Festival
- Addis Int’l Film Festival on Rights and Justice, Addis Ababa
- Seattle Human Rights Watch Film Festival
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QUOTES

"[A] documentary of the highest calling."
The Hollywood Reporter
“Captures the stark reality of women’s and girls’ suffering and untold courage… You will never think about conflict in gender-neutral terms again.”
Karin Wachter
Int’l Rescue Committee, Gender-based Violence Technical Advisor
“Impressive…shows not only in candid and unapologetic detail the psychological trauma and horror endured by individual rape survivors, but also its broader cultural implications.”
Jeffrey W. Mantz
Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology, George Mason University
“Exceptional lensing throughout this distressing and disturbing documentary.”
Joe Leydon
Variety
"An important tool for waking up the sleeping consciousness of humanity that continues to allow such injustices on women and children to go unchecked and unreported."
Chrys Ballerano
NY State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
“Panoramic shots of the beautiful countryside and wealthy enclaves sharply contrast with close-up views that document suffering in survivors’ blank stares and orphans’ wailing cries.”
Booklist
“Harrowing and heart-rending and maddening and confounding.”
Robert Lloyd
Los Angeles Times
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RELATED LINKS

The Fledgling Fund
Watch a trailer of the film, read more about the film, and check out the list of grassroots organizations involved in making change.
Rape Epidemic Raises Trauma of Congo War
October 7, 2007 front-page article in the New York Times
Our Bodies - Their Battle Ground: Gender-based Violence in Conflict Zones
Report from IRIN, part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Film’s official website
Watch the trailer, learn more about the filmmaker, visit the photo gallery
The Congo Featured on Democracy Now!
October 8, 2007 interview with Congolese activist on national TV/radio program, Democracy Now!
Congo Global Action
Learn more about the issues, read about those working for change in the Congo, and get involved.
Read full Variety review
Interview with filmmaker in The Reeler
Interview with filmmaker and clips from the film on DivineCaroline
Read the filmmaker’s letter to the New York Times
Film's Page on the HBO Website
Preview the film, see a slideshow of survivor portraits, discussion boards, a resource list for taking action and more.
Interview with filmmaker in Documentary Online Magazine from the International Documentary Association
Watch an extended interview with the Filmmaker on Talking Stick TV, Seattle
Hear the Filmmaker speak about her creative motivations, the production process, and the history and overarching politics of conflict and war in the DRC.
THE GREATEST SILENCE on Jezebel.com
Readers of the site defend Lisa F. Jackson’s decision to include her own story of sexual assault in the film.
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FILMS ON THE MID-EAST
Interested in gaining more insight and background on the current conflict in the Middle East? Check out WMM’s powerful documentaries made by and about women in that region, including MY LAND ZION and WOMEN IN STRUGGLE.
More details.
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