I Am Vanessa Guillen: Scandale dans les rangs

STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful

Vanessa Guillen was a young Latin American woman, whose dreams did not conform with traditional gender norms. She wanted to make her name either as a boxer, or in the military, and went with the latter. Making her family extremely proud, Vanessa settled in well at the Fort Hood military compound for a while, but quickly grew disillusioned, and complained of sexual harassment and abuse by her fellow cadets. She was later found murdered in a shallow ditch, spurring her mother Gloria, and sisters Mayra and Lupe into a ferocious battle for justice, and exposing a top down culture of corruption at FH, whilst effecting a change in the law.

If their general original content is somewhat hit and miss, Netflix can generally be relied on to produce a solid, insightful documentary, and this, the feature length directorial debut of director Christy Wegener, would be one such example. A shocking, unbelievable true life tale of institutional corruption and evil, it shines a light on a marginalised voice, in the shape of a young woman from a minority background, and the failings and betrayal of an organisation meant to protect her. Of shattered dreams and shattered hearts, finding the strength to rise up to demand justice and change.

No longer able to fight her own corner, Vanessa's legacy rests in the hands of her mother and two sisters, who are (without generalising) a typically impassioned Latin American family, dealt the most shattering of blows. You can feel the fire raging within them, as they chase their campaign around the company, rallying legal experts, lawmakers and even (then) President Trump in to making Vanessa's life matter. This was a young woman whose only crime was to pursue a dream and make her loved ones proud, and it's truly shocking how the apparently most honourable, and most deserving of respect, people actually behave when forced in to a corner and told to justify their actions, as we've seen in other recent documentaries such as Athlete A. It really makes you feel uncomfortable.

There are some people who sadly end up having more of an impact in death than they do in life, which things like the death of George Floyd (whatever you thought of him) proven, and someone like Vanessa Guillen has the power to do just the same thing, and maybe even better. ****

What I liked:

1. Dealt with issues that could easily be dry, boring and slow in a really compelling way issues like legislation.

2. Doesn't indulge in the gore of the crime in an insensitive way.

3. This is a story that is shocking, sad, hopeful and inspiring. It really captures all kinds of emotions.

4. Moves fast. It's clear. It's complex.

5. It makes you think about it afterwards. Sticks with you.

6. I like the music through most of the film and the song at the end with the singer.

What I wished it had:

1. Wrap up of the criminal's trial. I just looked it up and saw the trial got delayed and maybe Netflix didn't want to wait to see how that finishes out.

2. I liked this topic in a film form but also think there's a lot to it and could be a series. I thought the narrative was pretty solid, but wouldn't mind a follow up.

3. Archival heavy in some parts - guessing couldn't be avoided.

This documentary is really well done, not much "time wasting" with fillers or going over the same stuff again and again. It documents the tragic case of Vanessa Guillen, who was sexually harassed and murdered while ON DUTY at Ford Hood in Texas, and how the military immediately went into 'damage mode' by not investigating her disappearance, and by covering it up for 2 months. They should be ashamed that there is SO much sexual abuse and intimidation in the military, which either gets reported but no action taken, or else doesn't even get reported through fear or repercussions. God Bless Vanessa, her legacy lives on through her family's love and advocacy to make positive changes to help others.

This doc shook me to the core. It was emotional and offers quite a refreshing point of view.

If you're expecting a traditional crime doc, then maybe not your cup of tea. If you are open to watching something more interesting then the same old formula of gore and exploitation, this breaks the mold.

This film gave me some hope, not only about democracy but humankind as well. A beautiful testament to a young woman, the legacy her family has built in her honor.

This felt intimate, thoughtfully crafted, sensitive and fair. The filmmakers handled this delicate story with gentle care and as a viewer, appreciated that. Imagine this was gut-wrenching to make.

I simply can't get this film out of my mind.

This film had me in tears 5 min in and over and over again. One family, 1st generation really shows what it means to love, protect and care for each other against all odds.

The story deals with a lot of issues and it deals with them well, but this is about family and the Latino community uniting above all else. It made me proud. It made me sad. It made me want to make this country better just like the family in the film does.

This is also about a social movement that blew up online and if you go on twitter, this film is getting to people. I thought I was just feeling extra emotional but this film has people balling their eyes out.

It's also fast moving. Was never bored. Just overwhelmed with emotion.