The Accused

"The Accused" is a powerful and thought-provoking drama that sheds light on the devastating consequences of sexual assault and the failures of the justice system. The film tells the story of Sarah Tobias, a young woman who is brutally gang-raped in a local bar while onlookers cheer and encourage the attack. Despite the physical evidence and eyewitness accounts, Sarah's district attorney, Kathryn Murphy, feels that Sarah's checkered past and flirtatious behavior will undermine her credibility in court. Against Sarah's wishes, Kathryn agrees to a plea bargain with the rapists, sparking Sarah's determination to seek justice and make her voice heard. As the case goes to trial, Sarah faces harassment and intimidation from her attackers and their supporters, while Kathryn discovers new evidence that could change the course of the case. The film features a gripping performance by Jodie Foster, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Sarah Tobias. "The Accused" is a disturbing and impactful exploration of the themes of classism, misogyny, post-traumatic stress disorder, slut shaming, victim blaming, and women's empowerment. The film closes with a haunting statistic: in the United States, a rape is reported every six minutes.

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Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Accused include The Silence of the Lambs, A Bronx Tale, Goodfellas, Stand by Me, Scarface, Carlito's Way.

The Accused was released in theaters on March 9, 1989.