By William Wolf

THE HUNTING GROUND  Send This Review to a Friend

Directed by Kirby Dick, “The Hunting Ground” is clearly an advocacy film urging the public to be more aware and act against what is depicted as an epidemic of rape on college campuses. It taps into recent stories about rape and cites statistics to show the frightening extent to which women are attacked.

The film makes no pretense at objectivity. It sounds an alarm and points to the need for action on the part of university administrations as well as by the police. When parents send their daughters off to school, they are in danger, the film demonstrates.

The villains to whom the film points are university officials more interested in protecting a school’s reputation than doing justice to the women who have suffered. This is especially true when athletes are involved, as the income-generating sports programs are sacrosanct. Bias against women leads law enforcement to also be reluctant to thoroughly investigate charges. The disturbing result is that there is a tendency toward cover-up rather than seeing that justice is done.

“The Hunting Ground” examines the cases involving Annie E. Clark and Andrea Pino, who came forward with accounts of what happened to them at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and have bravely waged a fight to focus on the rape issue. They also have inspired others to the cause.

The film gives us a picture of the dangers faced and the urgency for action, and the result is a powerful documentary of current importance. A Radius/CNN Films release. Reviewed February 27, 2015.

  

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