Private Violence

2014 American film

Private Violence

Promotional poster

Directed by| Cynthia Hill
Produced by| Cynthia Hill
Cinematography| Rex Miller
Edited by| Tom Vickers
Music by| Chuck Johnson

Production
companies

Markay Media
Chicken & Egg Pictures
HBO Documentary Films
Candescent Films
Artemis Rising Foundation

Distributed by| HBO

Release date

* January 19, 2014 (2014-01-19) (Sundance)

Running time

| 80 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

Private Violence is a 2014 American documentary film directed and produced by Cynthia Hill.[1] The film focuses on the issue of domestic violence, as told through two survivors. Ultimately, the film centers on dispelling the logic of the commonly asked question: “Why didn’t she just leave?”

Private Violence premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014, where it won the Candescent Award.[2] The film was also shown at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, True/False Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, HotDocs Film Festival, and the Doxa Documentary Film Festival. It won the Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights at Full Frame and the Silver Heart Award at the Dallas International Film Festival.[2]

On July 16, 2015, the film was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Information Programing – Long Form category.[3] HBO Documentary Films first broadcast Private Violence on October 20, 2014. HBO films and Women Make Movies are both distributors.

## Synopsis

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The film narrates the story of domestic violence survivors: Kit Gruelle, a domestic violence victim turned advocate who seeks justice for all female violence survivors, and Deanna Walters, whose estranged husband Robbie kidnapped and beat her for four days in the cab of his truck but was not arrested for it.[4]

## Reception

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The film received mostly positive response from critics.[5] In his review for Variety, Dennis Harvey said that "Cynthia Hill delivers a vivid portrait of one leading justice advocate and one survivor of horrific spousal abuse."[6] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and said that "Cynthia Hill's Private Violence offers an interesting procedural account and, along the way, gets to know the impressively dedicated advocate, Kit Gruelle, who sees it through to the end."[7] Brian Tallerico from Film Threat said, "Just by being truthful and honest with its subjects, Cynthia Hill's film feels like a call to action. Listen to it."[8]

Matt Zoller Zeitz of Vulture called Private Violence "difficult to experience, essential to watch."[9] Seitz compares Private Violence to other documentaries about domestic violence, stating that "None can touch the power, sensitivity, and explanatory skill of this one. It's not just wallowing in pain, it's illuminating the social architecture that encloses and protects abusers and preserves the status quo." Tom Roston of BillMoyers.com included it among the 10 great social justice documentary films of 2014: "The domestic abuse relationship is so uniquely tragic because it happens behind closed doors where it abides by its own twisted rules and illogic. In director Cynthia Hill’s Private Violence, there’s hope in dismantling that terror. The film is a disturbing and bold depiction of a social issue that necessitates the abuse be so bad that help may no longer be relevant. Thankfully, as told here, there are advocates and women courageous enough to fight back so that healing can take hold."[10]

## Accolades

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It received a 2015 Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Informational Programming."[11]

## References

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1. ^ "Private Violence - The feature length film". Wivp.waittinstitute.org. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
2. ^ a b "Private Violence, A Documentary Everyone Should See!". Privateviolence.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
3. ^ "Emmy Award Nominations: Full List of 2015 Emmy Nominees". Variety.com. July 16, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
4. ^ "Private Violence: Survivors & Advocates Confront Victim Blaming & the Epidemic of Domestic Abuse". Democracy Now!. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
5. ^ "Private Violence". Indiewire.com. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
6. ^ "Sundance Film Review: 'Private Violence'". Variety.com. January 27, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
7. ^ "Private Violence: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 21, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
8. ^ "PRIVATE VIOLENCE". Filmthreat.com. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
9. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (October 20, 2014). "HBO's Documentary About Domestic Violence Is Difficult to Experience, Essential to Watch". Vulture.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
10. ^ "10 Great 2014 Social Justice Documentary Films". Billmoyers.com. December 22, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
11. ^ "Nominee For the 36th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards Announced". Emmyonline.com.

## External links

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* Official website
* Private Violence at IMDb
* Private Violence at Rotten Tomatoes