The Invisible War

The Invisible War is a 2012 documentary film written and directed by Kirby Dick about sexual abuse in the United States Armed Forces. It premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, where it received the U.S. Documentary Audience Award.

Background
Main article: Military sexual trauma

In 2010, 108,121 veterans screened positive for military sexual trauma, and 68,379 had at least one Veterans Health Administration outpatient visit for related conditions. Also in 2010, The Department of Defense processed reports of 3,198 new assaults but estimated the actual number of assaults to be closer to 19,000. However, these reports only resulted in convictions against 244 perpetrators.

Synopsis
The Invisible War features interviews with military personnel, lawmakers, and advocates, as well as veterans who have survived assault. The survivors talk about their experiences joining the military, the events surrounding their assaults, and the difficulties they have faced in seeking justice.

One survivor, Seaman Kori Cioca, struggles to earn benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay for the many medical difficulties that have resulted from her rape. With the help of attorney Susan Burke, Cioca brings a civil suit against the Department of Defense alleging a failure to adequately address sexual assault within the military.

The film also recounts several current and past incidents of sexual abuse, such as the 1991 Navy Tailhook scandal, the 1996 Army Aberdeen scandal, and the 2003 Air Force Academy scandal, and argues that the military has consistently made empty promises to address its high rate of sexual assault. The survivors and advocates featured in the film call for changes to the way the military handles sexual assault, such as shifting prosecution away from unit commanders, who often are either friends with assailants or are assailants themselves.

Interviews
People interviewed in The Invisible War include:

Members of Congress

 * Chellie Pingree, (D, Maine)
 * Louise Slaughter (D, New York)
 * Mike Turner (R, Ohio)
 * Loretta Sanchez (D, California)
 * Jackie Speier (D, California)
 * Ted Poe (R, Texas)
 * Susan Davis, (D, California)
 * Niki Tsongas, (D, Massachusetts)

Military Personnel

 * Major General Mary Kay Hertog, Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
 * Dr. Kaye Whitley, Former Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office
 * Rear Admiral Anthony Kurta, Director, Military Plans and Policy
 * General Claudia Kennedy, US Army (Retired)
 * Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, US Air Force (Retired)
 * Brigadier General Loree Sutton, M.D., US Army (Retired)
 * Major General Dennis Laich, US Army (Retired)

Response
Two days before the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta called a press conference to discuss the Department of Defense's efforts to help sexual assault survivors. He did not announce changes to enforcement or prosecution.

Following The Invisible War's initial allegations of widespread harassment and sexual assault at Marine Barracks Washington, eight women filed suit against military leaders for maintaining an environment that tolerates rapists while silencing survivors.

On April 16, 2012, Secretary Panetta issued a directive ordering all sexual assault cases to be handled by senior officers at the rank of colonel or higher. This effectively ended the practice of commanders prosecuting sexual assault cases from within their own units. Panetta later told one of the film's producers that watching The Invisible War contributed to his decision to revise this policy. The filmmakers applauded these changes but said that the Pentagon needed to take further steps, such as requiring that investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases be handled outside of the military chain of command.

Reception
In addition to winning the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, The Invisible War also received the Nestor Almendros Award for Courage In Filmmaking at the 2012 Human Rights Watch Film Festival, the Silver Heart Award at the 2012 Dallas International Film Festival , the Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival , and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Provincetown International Film Festival.

The Invisible War received widespread acclaim from critics. The Los Angeles Times's Kenneth Turan was impressed with the film's investigation and revelations, writing that that, “even by [Sundance's] impressive standards, Kirby Dick's The Invisible War is exceptional—both for its scandalous nature as well as its emotional impact.” The New York Times's A.O. Scott wrote that the film demanded immediate action, saying, “This is not a movie that can be ignored.”  Amy Biancolli of San Francisco Chronicle found the film emotionally harrowing but necessary, writing, “It is far too difficult to watch. Which means we must.”