The Accused
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Legal drama has scenes of sexual violence, strong language.
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The Accused
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What's the Story?
In THE ACCUSED, after experiencing a violent gang rape in a bar, Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster) is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. She is helped by lawyer Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis), who becomes equally committed to holding the men to account.
Is It Any Good?
Based on a real-life trial, this film from 1988 makes an impact not just in the brutality of the crime, but the way in which the victim is treated in the aftermath. In The Accused, Sarah is handled with clinical coldness and suspicion, while behind the scenes, lawyers make decisions based more on tidy outcomes and sure wins than a true concern for justice.
Foster took home an Academy Award for her intense and intimate performance. Sarah is a woman who at first seems powerless, but who then finds strength in her outrage, moving McGillis' practical lawyer into action from the heart instead of the rule book. It's a compelling film with important things to say, particularly back in the '80s when this kind of subject was not often tackled on-screen. That it is still so relevant decades on makes it all the more impactful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sexual violence The Accused. How did these scenes make you feel? Was it important that the film generated strong feelings from the viewer? Why, or why not?
Discuss the narrative structure and how the movie begins soon after the assault, and doesn't show the crime until near the end. What impact did that have on you?
What suspicions and presumptions were made toward Sarah's character in an attempt to invalidate her experience? Discuss how this is mirrored in the outside world. Can you think of similar examples from the media?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the movie? Were they glamorized? Did the characters need to do these things? What were the consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 14, 1988
- On DVD or streaming: April 16, 2002
- Cast: Jodie Foster , Kelly McGillis , Bernie Coulson
- Director: Jonathan Kaplan
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance
- Run time: 111 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- Awards: Academy Award , Golden Globe
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
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