Ahead of it’s release at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival I had the opportunity to speak with the writers, directors and producers of revenge thriller Violation, Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli for Carolyn Talks…, Since it’s premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, Violation has generated a lot of discussion surrounding it’s portrayal of rape and revenge, but there’s more to it than that.
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During our discussion we spoke about the psychological damage and detachment lead character Miriam, played by Sims-Fewer experiences as a result of the violation carried out upon her by a close friend. Rarely do we get to see women be physically brutal in their quest for revenge against their perpetrators, and not only do we get to see that in this film, we see the toll it takes on Miriam mentally and emotionally. What happens is also compounded by a growing rift in her relationships with her sister Greta (Anna Maguire), and husband Caleb (Obi Abili).
As a revenge thriller, Violation works on every level, from the cinematography, sound design by Matthew Chan and Marci Ida, and of course the performances. Maguire and Sims-Fewer’s interactions ebb from easy sibling comradery, to a sort of cruel viciousness that occurs between women intending to hurt each other in the worst way. Sims-Fewer’s full inhabitation of Miriam’s anger is devestating as her confusion and sense of betrayal grows into a frightening detachment of a woman with nothing left to lose or give.
Violation will begin streaming exclusively on Shudder, on March 25, 2021. You can follow Carolyn on Twitter and Instagram @Carriecnh12, and to access the African American Film Critics Association Virtual Roundtables mentioned, visit the YouTube Channel here, and her new channel here.
About Madeleine and Dusty
