15 reviews
I had heard of this documentary when it first came out, I had met the father of the director of the film Billy Corben. he had told me about his son's film. I don't remember it ever playing in my area so I hadn't seen it. I finally came across a DVD of it and saw it. It is both riveting and off putting at the same time. It is very difficult to watch. In 1999, a University of Florida fraternity had a party and hired a couple of strippers for the party. The whole party was filmed by a couple of the frat guys. It turns out that later that night one of the strippers that had left came back to the party and ended up staying and proceeded to go into a room with a couple of the guys and was allegedly raped. The film has interviews with Lisa, the woman that was allegedly raped, and Tony, the one of the party organizers that had hired her and was in the room when the act was going on. There are other interviews with people involved with the aftermath of the case. The film also shows footage from the party and the act in question. The film starts of mostly with interviews, weaving some of the video from the party and the room after. Lisa insists that she was raped, Tony insists that she was lying that she had never screamed or given any indication of not wanting to have sex with these guys. The film then focuses on the horrible handling of the case by the authorities in Gainesville. Lisa accused these guys of raping her and the police confiscated the videos. After watching what had gone on, the police determined that she had falsely accused the frat guys and was arrested for it. The guys she accused were questioned together and were not charged at the time. The whole thing was handled terribly by the police that the DA, the film shows also how politics played a role in not charging these guys wit a crime.
At first I thought that the footage would be too ambiguous for me to agree on whether or not Lisa was raped. In the beginning of the film, the footage is shown quickly and gives the impression that this what happened was consensual sex. It is obvious that Lisa at wouldn't appear to be very sympathetic to us because of preconceived notions about her profession. The last half hour of the film shows the footage for longer periods, and we get a better sense of what went on. The guy that she was in the video with was named Mike, he declined to be interviewed for the film(what a surprise!. This was a power struggle, she was obviously drunk but seemed totally aware of what this guy was doing. She was egging him on, sarcastically asking him if doing this to her made him feel "like a man". The guys that are filming are laughing, at one point one of them says "welcome to the RAPE of a crack-whore bitch". How anyone could look at this and not determined that she was being raped is beyond my comprehension!!!! At least the Mike guy deserves to have been put in jail, he was overpowering her,m there is no way she could have fought him off. I think she decided to let him do this to her without having him hurt her more than if she would have struggled. She was clearly trying to keep him from penetrating her. Tony comes off as a real jerk, asking that if she was being raped why didn't she scream out or say no. He claims that he wouldn't let his friend do that. He comes of as a real scumbag, saying that this had ruined a year of his life and that he had dreams and he was a better than Lisa. Lisa was basically white trash and beneath him. Disgusting human being.
This film reminded me of the film, The Accused, where Jodie Foster played a woman that was raped in a bar by a group of guys and they were being cheered on by spectators. The film dealt with the fact that she was drunk that night and that she had flirted and carried on with some of the guys in the bar that ended up raping here. The rape scene was shot in a way that made it clear that she was raped, there was no way to deny it. My point is that the film dealt more with the attitudes that the justice system and the public deal with a situation like this. Does a woman deserve to be raped if she dresses provocatively or act a certain way.
There are of course cases where a woman has falsely accuses someone of rape. The Duke Lacrosse team case comes to mind. I remember that case, it was assumed automatically that the guys were guilty, and it turned out that the woman was lying. In that case law enforcement had also handled the situation horribly. This documentary deals with the attitudes that we have about what rape is. Rape is not a sexual act, it is an act of violence and degradation. Tony says that he thanks G_d for the existence of the tape, that it completely exonerates him and his friends. I think that it does just the opposite, it clearly shows this woman being raped, she may have put herself in a compromising position, but she didn't deserve for this to be done to her. The justice system clearly failed her.
These guys should have gone to jail.
At first I thought that the footage would be too ambiguous for me to agree on whether or not Lisa was raped. In the beginning of the film, the footage is shown quickly and gives the impression that this what happened was consensual sex. It is obvious that Lisa at wouldn't appear to be very sympathetic to us because of preconceived notions about her profession. The last half hour of the film shows the footage for longer periods, and we get a better sense of what went on. The guy that she was in the video with was named Mike, he declined to be interviewed for the film(what a surprise!. This was a power struggle, she was obviously drunk but seemed totally aware of what this guy was doing. She was egging him on, sarcastically asking him if doing this to her made him feel "like a man". The guys that are filming are laughing, at one point one of them says "welcome to the RAPE of a crack-whore bitch". How anyone could look at this and not determined that she was being raped is beyond my comprehension!!!! At least the Mike guy deserves to have been put in jail, he was overpowering her,m there is no way she could have fought him off. I think she decided to let him do this to her without having him hurt her more than if she would have struggled. She was clearly trying to keep him from penetrating her. Tony comes off as a real jerk, asking that if she was being raped why didn't she scream out or say no. He claims that he wouldn't let his friend do that. He comes of as a real scumbag, saying that this had ruined a year of his life and that he had dreams and he was a better than Lisa. Lisa was basically white trash and beneath him. Disgusting human being.
This film reminded me of the film, The Accused, where Jodie Foster played a woman that was raped in a bar by a group of guys and they were being cheered on by spectators. The film dealt with the fact that she was drunk that night and that she had flirted and carried on with some of the guys in the bar that ended up raping here. The rape scene was shot in a way that made it clear that she was raped, there was no way to deny it. My point is that the film dealt more with the attitudes that the justice system and the public deal with a situation like this. Does a woman deserve to be raped if she dresses provocatively or act a certain way.
There are of course cases where a woman has falsely accuses someone of rape. The Duke Lacrosse team case comes to mind. I remember that case, it was assumed automatically that the guys were guilty, and it turned out that the woman was lying. In that case law enforcement had also handled the situation horribly. This documentary deals with the attitudes that we have about what rape is. Rape is not a sexual act, it is an act of violence and degradation. Tony says that he thanks G_d for the existence of the tape, that it completely exonerates him and his friends. I think that it does just the opposite, it clearly shows this woman being raped, she may have put herself in a compromising position, but she didn't deserve for this to be done to her. The justice system clearly failed her.
These guys should have gone to jail.
- flicklover
- Feb 16, 2011
- Permalink
I couldn't sit through the whole film. It's really disturbing that something like this can happen around Year 2000. I'm not talking about rape. It happens every day. I'm talking about the failed prosecution (under whose administration...), the way some really twisted frat boys got away when the crime is recorded on tape. If the woman's so below them, like the guy kept saying, then why did they hire her? If her "stripper" profession's so disgusting, who does the hiring? If they were honest on tape about smearing her character (calling her "crackwhore" etc), why did they also call what they were doing "rape" in the same sentence? Again, what's horrifying is not the crime itself, but that people can watch it and think it's not. How far have we gone in the last four decades? In this day and age.
- ArthurDental
- Aug 9, 2006
- Permalink
I am not easily shocked, nor am I prone to anger. However, I just finished watching this film and feel disgusted and angry. The thing that disturbs me the most, is how people who saw the footage could possibly conceive the sequence of events as normal consentual sex. That includes some of the people who have posted comments on this site. Make no mistake, Lisa King was not wise to go back to that "party" she was not wise to continue drinking. However, this mistake and this recklessness does not mean that she deserved what happened to her. Shame on anyone who feels that the boys cant be blames for what they did, just because an intoxicated woman flirts with you, does not mean you have the green light to have sex with her. It is painfully painfully clear that Lisa did not want Mike to continue, she never kissed him, she fought him, she taunted him, the only time she ever conceeded was when he chocked her, bit her toe, or any of the other times when he stepped up his use of force to a point that hurt her or scared the hell out of her.
If this was consentual why did she never appear to be enjoying herself? I feel upset that these particulars even need to be explained, as it just so simply clear that this was an act of domination and and not one of consentual sex. The prosecuters, the judge, the boys at the party, and anyone who believes that this was not rape, really needs to look at their understanding of how to treat another human being. The level of acceptance of what happened that morning is truly a disturbing comment on the standards of humanity in society today.
If this was consentual why did she never appear to be enjoying herself? I feel upset that these particulars even need to be explained, as it just so simply clear that this was an act of domination and and not one of consentual sex. The prosecuters, the judge, the boys at the party, and anyone who believes that this was not rape, really needs to look at their understanding of how to treat another human being. The level of acceptance of what happened that morning is truly a disturbing comment on the standards of humanity in society today.
- poppitsyoung
- May 19, 2006
- Permalink
Firstly, I feel wrong adding a commentary to what is a depiction f someone's real life misfortune. It's not like this doco was some Hollywood production - it was real life. Grading something like this feels inappropriate. I'd also like to say that I find the thought very troubling that anyone could sit through the entire documentary and not feel as though they were witnessing something so deeply, deeply wrong. It is so clearly evident that you are witnessing a rape. I do wonder how others who can't see that in this movie would go about defining the act of engaging in sex.. I didn't know that it required the male to over-power and actually pin down the female. I didn't know that slapping and gouging at eyes was an acceptable part of having sex. I feel that the footage depicted in this documentary is disturbingly graphic. My assumption is that this documentary would have been a last ditch attempt available to the victim so as to seek some form of justice. I was left feeling such incredible sympathy for Lisa and a feeling of violently despising Tony Marzullo and his fello fratmates. Really, they should have a 300lb bloke do the same thing to them!
I found this to be a very serious and deep piece. I did not find the material to be needlessly graphic but I admit it was hard to watch at times. This documentary shares a very introspective look at politics and law. I was most impressed to find audience members debating the films' themes as it played.
- marioxavie
- Feb 3, 2002
- Permalink
This brilliant documentary tells the shocking true story of a stripper who claims she was raped while on a call at a frat house. The events that unfolded during the oncoming investigation were truly devastating for the victim.
The beauty of this incredibly difficult film is that the director doesn't take sides. It would have been easy for him to suggest that the stripper was the victim and the frat boys, the bad boys, but the director steers away from all judgement and lets the audience decide for themselves.
It also shows that the victim of the case can be made out to be the villain, which is devastating because it has the power for victims of sexual crimes not to report these horrid actions, because of fear that they will be torn apart psychologically by lawyers and public opinion.
If you can stomach some truly disturbing themes, Raw : A question of consent is a brilliant and thought provoking documentary, that you wont forget any time soon!
Go and see it !
The beauty of this incredibly difficult film is that the director doesn't take sides. It would have been easy for him to suggest that the stripper was the victim and the frat boys, the bad boys, but the director steers away from all judgement and lets the audience decide for themselves.
It also shows that the victim of the case can be made out to be the villain, which is devastating because it has the power for victims of sexual crimes not to report these horrid actions, because of fear that they will be torn apart psychologically by lawyers and public opinion.
If you can stomach some truly disturbing themes, Raw : A question of consent is a brilliant and thought provoking documentary, that you wont forget any time soon!
Go and see it !
- SpannersGerm669
- Jul 1, 2014
- Permalink
I do not have any sympathy for Lisa. To go to a frat party and perform sexual and oral acts on another woman and many boys, does she really expect these "men" to respect her when they believe they are paying for her services. It disgusted me how these frat boys just used her body. They took advantage of her intoxication. She chose to stay at the party and chose to drink more. Be accountable for the decisions you make - to prance around totally naked and displaying your privates, you really expect men to care for your welfare - not take advantage of you? The profession she was in makes me think that all prostitutes are raped because they are only doing this for money (very few do it for the pleasure of sex) therefore the performing act of sex is done against their will because in desperate times they cannot choose their customers. These boys need to have more respect for women regardless of their "class". I don't see Lisa as a crack head whore white trash but a woman with low self esteem that made a wrong decision to trust the frat organizer.
In what other movie could you watch graphic sexual activity and still not understand at the end whether the sex was consensual or not? This movie is as provocative a film as you're likely to ever see, making every viewer question their preconceived notions of what rape and consent are. Along with Memento, no other movie in years has left me with more questions after the film is over. Unfortunately, unlike Memento, more and more viewings probably won't help our understanding of what we saw on screen. Some of the people involved aren't talking, and those who do probably all think they are entirely truthful and right. Don't be put off by how graphic it is...see it when it comes out.
This is a fantastic documentary on a case of an alleged rape in a frat house. It is so controversial because of its ambiguity.
I have a certain opinion on the incidents portrayed in this film, but it is important for the viewer to interpret it as he pleases.
Although I'm sure the creator of this film must have an opinion of his own, the interesting thing about the final outcome is that any interpretation can be backed up by the material gathered here.
Be warned this documentary can be hard to watch at times. The footage used through out most of the film is the one the frat members took during a party were the incident took place.
I have a certain opinion on the incidents portrayed in this film, but it is important for the viewer to interpret it as he pleases.
Although I'm sure the creator of this film must have an opinion of his own, the interesting thing about the final outcome is that any interpretation can be backed up by the material gathered here.
Be warned this documentary can be hard to watch at times. The footage used through out most of the film is the one the frat members took during a party were the incident took place.
I believe the Sundance film festival has set an all time high for themselves after this movie. A documentary that takes place during an alleged rape, this movie defies vulgarity, but doesn't do it just for the heck of it. This documentary was set out to prove a point and make a case, and made it well. 10/10 stars and snaps to the director.
- Colourofthelife
- Oct 16, 2009
- Permalink
I'm disappointed that there are not many comments on this page, since this is a film which demands to be debated, whether it be the simple questions of "was it/wasn't it rape" or even just "should this film be shown?" Personally, after seeing the film I have no doubt that King was raped, and that Mike Yarhaus is a dangerous, disturbed man at large. And I've probably seen as much of the evidence as the State Attorney could be bothered to look at. What is shocking as that the film features interviews with people who, I think sincerely, believe that this was an act of consensual sex. While I am convinced this was rape, the film doesn't let me acquire that conviction easily - not one participant in this film gives a good account of themselves, and the differences of opinion serve to produce a worryingly reminder that the question of consent is a misleading one. Remember all that "no means no" stuff that was misinterpreted as suggesting that if she doesn't say "no", she means "yes"? Now we get situations like this. King did not say no, and though she (occasionally) puts up a fight, it is pretty lacklustre. She even goads her assailant and taunts him. She doesn't scream or cry, yet this is still rape, because it is based on a pre-meditated assumption that she is there to have sex with, that she is "a white trash crackwhore" as she is constantly called. It also illustrates that rape is a power struggle. King was too proud, and too wasted to put up an attorney-friendly struggle. The next time I give my wallet to someone with a gun, I expect the court to recognise that I did not willingly give up my cash - I was threatened, but recognised that resistance was not worth the risk. I could argue so much about this movie, but I just saw it and these are some initial responses. Its a powerful, enraging piece, and either not as impartial as it hopes to seem, or blessed with villainous assailants who don't mind revealing their unpleasantness on camera. By the way, the potentially exploitative inclusion of the footage taken by the frat house of the rape is fully justified. What was dismissed as proof of consenting sex and passed around as a harmless sex tape can now be seen as proof of the opposite, reclaimed and set in context. Be ashamed. Be very ashamed, frat boys...
- Puppetmister
- Jan 29, 2002
- Permalink
This is a superb documentary on a very serious matter, but in saying that I think this particular case whoever is right or wrong isn't clear cut. It's very well done. I think in various ways everyone is too blame. In saying that I just want to say RAPE IS WRONG & SHOULD BE DEALT WITH HARSHLY.
- supermalta
- May 3, 2022
- Permalink
I was attending UF when the event happened and I read about it in the newspapers. I didnt realize it was that big of a deal at the time though. It is really obvious that she was raped, and anyone who doesnt think so really needs help. It is also obvious that she was tired, kinda drugged up, but she somewhat knew what was going on and it wasnt what she wanted. I do feel sorry for the stripper, and Mike Yahraus is obviously guilty as sin. But although I dont want to say she got what she deserved, in life, if you put yourself in certain situations there is a higher probability that bad things will occur than other situations. A drunk female stripper with a bunch of frat boys is one of these situations where something bad can easily happen, and it did. Miss King is not the smartest person in the world, and to pick the profession of a stripper when she was married with kids indicates that she needed some counseling or some kind of help. But you have to feel somewhat bad for her. The frat boys in their interviews came across as the silly spoiled little boys that they are. I hope that the people involved really do feel the repercussions of the event, especially the Tony Marzullo character, who comes across as pure scum.
This is a very thought provoking film. It disturbs the idea that the justice system can simply discover the truth of what happened and shows clearly how instead the system constructs the truth of what happened. By juxtaposing video footage of a rape with extracts from interviews with the survivor and a friend of the attacker a complex picture emerges that forced me to rethink 'consent'.
I think it is important to see this film but it is very hard to watch. You are literally seeing someone being raped.
I think it is important to see this film but it is very hard to watch. You are literally seeing someone being raped.