Document 475: Break the Silence

475: Break The Silence
Dir. Hind Bensari, Morocco 2013, 47m, UK Premiere

In March 2012, Amina Fillali, a 16 year old girl from a small town in Morocco, took her own life- after she was forced to marry the man who raped her.

Compelling young women- including minors- to marry their rapists is a practice that is common and legally accepted in Morocco. In order to break the long silence on this issue, filmmaker Hind Bensari set out to examine commonly-held views and the opinions of the legal establishment, as well as the work of activists in fighting against the brutal culture of victim blaming. Bensari’s film also attempts to engage with the survivors- allowing them tell their stories for the first time.

This film features frank discussion of rape and abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.