Parents' Guide to Confirmation

This intense movie highlights the politically motivated chaos surrounding one of the most sharply contested appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court in American history. It also discusses the racial discussions of the time while focusing on underscoring the injustices endured by Anita Hill during that period. It credits her willingness to go public for pushing the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace, and the treatment of women who come forward to complain about it, into the national political spotlight. Finally, it points to the national backlash that ensued, which led to a substantial increase in the number and visibility of women elected to public office.

Viewers too young to remember may find it a little slow-going, although appearances by Eric Stonestreet, Jennifer Hudson, and other notable actors add to its appeal. However, chances are that folks who watched the events unfold over two decades ago will recognize the range of archived news stories and Senate hearing footage, which is successfully combined with reenactments of key events and fictionalized moments to tell the story. Regardless of what you may think about what actually transpired, the overall narrative offers the chance to reflect on how these events contribute to our overall understanding of what sexual harassment is and the patriarchal and political hurdles that women still have to overcome to be respected in the workplace today.