Documentary
Congo,United States of America
City of Joy is a Netflix documentary film directed by Madeleine Gavin. The film follows the stories of Jane, a Congolese woman who has been raped by a group of soldiers, and Christine, another survivor who has been left with a young child after her husband was killed. The two women are brought together at the City of Joy, a center in Bukavu, East Congo that provides therapy, education, and support to women who have survived unimaginable abuse.
The center was founded in 2011 by a team of incredible women: Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist who has treated tens of thousands of rape survivors; Christine Schuler-Deschryver, a Congolese activist who spent years trying to stop the violence; and playwright Eve Ensler, who wrote The Vagina Monologues and who has been working to end violence against women for over two decades.
Through interviews with the survivors, the founders, and the staff at the City of Joy, the film provides a powerful and emotional look at the realities of life in Congo. It also shows the resilience and strength of the women who have survived unimaginable horrors and who are now working to build a better future for themselves and their families.
The film is not easy to watch; it includes harrowing descriptions of rape and torture, as well as heartbreaking stories of loss and grief. But it is also a deeply inspiring film that shines a light on the incredible work being done at the City of Joy and the hope that these women and their supporters are bringing to Congo.
