Documentary
United States of America
I Am Vanessa Guillen is a documentary film that explores the life and tragic death of Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier in the United States Army who was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. Vanessa Guillen dreamed of a military career and had enlisted after graduating from high school.
However, Vanessa's dream became a nightmare when she was sexually harassed by a fellow soldier on the base. Despite reporting the harassment to her superiors, Vanessa felt unsupported and unsafe, and she was eventually killed by her harasser in April 2020. Her remains were found in a shallow grave on the base two months later.
The documentary follows Vanessa's family as they grapple with the aftermath of her death and seek justice for their daughter. They work to uncover the truth about what happened to Vanessa, to hold those responsible accountable, and to change the culture of the military to prevent future instances of sexual assault and harassment.
The film features interviews with Vanessa's family members, including her mother and sisters, as well as with experts in the military and sexual assault prevention. It also documents the family's journey to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and advocate for reforms to improve the safety and well-being of service members.
I Am Vanessa Guillen sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual assault and harassment in the military and the need for systemic change to protect service members, particularly women, from violence and discrimination.
