Rape and Rights

This documentary film about a real case-study shows Johanna, a young Swedish woman, who meets the big love of her life, Gaetano, during a holiday on Sicily. However, within twelve hours her love has been transformed into a nightmare. Gaetano hands her over to three of his friends. She tries to escape, but all three men rape her. Johanna survives but chooses not to remain silent. She realises that the deed had been planned by Gaetano from the very beginning. Johanna demands reparation and justice. A battle lasting several years is initiated against the men, against the macho culture of Sicily, against the judicial system and even against the Swedish authorities. Johanna manages to arrange a trial – to discover that neither she nor her lawyer are allowed to express themselves before the court… This programme discusses a criminal violation of a lonely young woman. The violation was perpetrated by four men, supported by the culture of the society and a nation´s judicial system. In which countries would even the television service have suppressed such a violation? The production team encountered a great many difficulties and obstacles during the making of the programme, which in itself is normal when authorities and other powers have interests in silencing a case. That is why only a limited amount of material was filmed and even that under protest. With a wealth of ingenuity the material has been used as constructively as possible in order to demonstrate to the viewers the relevant and true story. Has it succeeded?