Educational Media Reviews Online

Cynthia Hill’s documentary examines the hot button topic of intimate partner and domestic abuse. The film is told from the perspective of two survivors – one at the beginning of her journey and one that has used her experiences to become an advocate for other survivors.

The film tackles some difficult topics: the fact that so many women face abuse at the hands of their partners, and the fact that society at large can’t understand why they stay. The audience is provided a glimpse into what two particular women, Deanna Walters and Kit Gruelle, face as one battles her abuser and the other fights for victims.

Hill’s dealing with the two main subjects’ offers an intimate glance into something typically seen as taboo, an issue that should stay within the family. It deals with the standard, “But why did she stay?” question by examining women’s roles as mothers and caregivers, and how society often blames them for the violence they have endured. Instead of asking why survivors stay, perhaps it should be more important to ask why partners abuse, and to have a better system in place for helping all victims escape their abusers.

Private Violence is highly recommended, and is suitable for audiences high school aged through adults. This documentary could be used in a variety of classes, such as sociology and gender studies, but also for nursing and allied health fields, as nurses and clinicians may encounter victims of domestic violence. Cynthia Hill’s film could provide a stepping off point to the difficult discussion of domestic and intimate partner violence.