Since 1998, a brutal war has ravaged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing over 4 million people. Over the same time, tens of thousands of women and girls have systematically been kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers - both from foreign militias and the Congolese army that is supposed to protect them. SPACES (CITY) OF JOY are planned to be shot in the war zones of the DRC, this feature length documentary not only intends to explore the shocking plight of women and girls caught in the sexual crossfire, as this giant African nation enters its second decade of internal conflict, but will confront the perpetrators, the rapist that committed these crimes, in trying to understand the mechanisms behind such actions and the possibility of reconciliation and atonement?
SPACES (City) of Joy – the raped women, their rapists & healers in Democratic Republic of Congo is a film aiming to search for meaning & understanding behind a decade-old epidemic of kidnapping, rape and torture, often carried out with impunity, by gangs of armed militias. Such atrocities leave survivors traumatized and isolated - shunned by society and their families, suffering lifelong health effects, including HIV/AIDS.
But perhaps the greatest tragedy, and danger, is that victims almost all remain silent about what they have suffered, too afraid and ashamed to speak out. As a result, the world is largely ignorant of their horrific plight and of the political conditions that allow it to continue.
The filmmakers aim to make encompassing interviews with victims young and old, self-confessed rapists, activists, U.N. peacekeepers, civilian & military judicial representatives, warfare rape-experts, healers, military leaders, soldiers, ex-combatants, and local law-enforcement officials. SPACES (City) of Joy is a film at once political and profoundly personal for Marius, who was forcefully conscripted into the apartheid army to fight and kill his own countryman in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia & Angola at the age of 18, and self a witness to rape.
SPACES (City) of Joy intends to challenge audiences to wonder what dark forces are at work in a world that has tolerated such atrocities without offering victims either solace or justice or the prosecution of perpetrators. Greed seems to be one factor; criminal groups appear to be fanning the flames of civil war to perpetuate instability in the region while they plunder eastern Congo's natural riches of diamonds, gold and coltan (a metal used in cell phones and laptops). It is viable to conclude that systematic rape is an effective way to destroy the fabric of society. Yet those in power, as well as powerful nations like the U.S, are doing little to prevent this outrage. "Is there something about sexual violence that makes us all turn away?". "In what inhuman context does rape become intentional, programmatic, a weapon of choice?”
Where are the voices of the women and men themselves? If they tell their stories, will others listen?" Is the truth healing? Are we ready to hear it? In understanding why this happen, will we be able to put an end to it? Can or will the perpetrators, the rapist atone for what they’ve done? Can they be forgiven? Is mutual atonement possible? Does converting to Christianity means impunity from atrocities committed? Is it enough to say you sorry, or do you have to show through your actions and way of life that you mean it and work to stop it from happening again? These are questions we intend to research.
