DVD Review: Stunning Power of ‘The Invisible War’ Will Floor You

CHICAGO – There have been a lot of good movies in 2012 but very few truly stellar ones. Near the top of the list when people ask me what I consider the best films of 2012 is the year’s best documentary, Kirby Dick’s stunning “The Invisible War,” a film that says so much about where we are as a nation. It both reveals a horrible, shameful part of our country’s military and the heroic people trying to stop it. It’s now on DVD and it’s truly a must-see.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

No film has moved me in 2012 like Dick’s expose about the startling state of being a female soldier in the U.S. Military. Far too many young women who have volunteered to put themselves in harm’s way to protect our way of life are not being protected themselves. That is something that should shame anyone with the power to fix it. And Dick’s film has already done some good, moving people to change policy and the way that the military approaches this horrific situation.

I’ll never forget the people I met watching “The Invisible War,” particularly the truly heroic Kori Cioca. When I think back on the film year of 2012, hers will be one of the faces that I remember most strongly. We owe it to her to not just watch Dick’s film but to make sure others do the same. With knowledge comes change. Because it’s impossible to see “The Invisible War” and not want to do something about it.

The Invisible War was released on DVD on October 23, 2012
Photo credit: New Video

Synopsis:
From Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated; Twist of Faith) comes The Invisible War, a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best-kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem - today, a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Twenty percent of all active-duty female servicewomen are sexually assaulted.

Profoundly moving, the film follows the stories of several idealistic young servicewomen who were raped and then betrayed by their own officers when they courageously came forward to report. Both a rallying cry for the hundreds of thousands of men and women who’ve been assaulted and a hopeful road map for change, The Invisible War is one of those rare films so powerful it has already helped change military policy.

Special Features:
o Audio Commentary With Director Kirby Dick and Producer Amy Ziering
o Extended Interviews
o Sundance Post-Screening Speak Out
o VetWOW Survivor Retreat
o PTSD Therapy Deleted Scene

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com