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DOCUMENTARY BACKGROUNDER Synopsis Inside
California's oldest women's prisons, the first inmate-initiated and led group
in the U.S. prison system was created by inmate Brenda Clubine to help abused
women speak out and realize they are not alone. Over the past two decades,
the women of CWAA, Convicted Women Against Abuse, have changed laws for
battered women and raised awareness for those on the outside. SIN BY
SILENCE is an emotionally packed documentary that tells the personal and
shocking stories of these courageous women who have learned from their past,
are changing their future and, most importantly, teach us how domestic
violence affects each and every person. About
The Film The
normalization of violence against women, relationship complexities and the
pervasive cultural ideology that private matters should remain private have
made domestic violence the number one cause of injury to women today – more
than rape, muggings and automobile accidents COMBINED. With
unprecedented access inside the California Institution for Women, SIN BY
SILENCE offers a unique gateway into the lives of women who are domestic
violence’s worst-case scenarios: women who have killed their abusers. Brenda
Clubine endured broken bones. Skull fractures. Her face bruised and battered.
By the time Brenda was put behind bars, for killing her husband in 1983, she
felt worthless. She received a sentence of 15 years to life. She had to give
up her son for adoption. She thought she was the only one in her situation.
But, Brenda soon discovered that she shared common experiences of love
turning violent with many of her fellow inmates. After years
of meeting on the yard and telling each other their whispered stories, an
inmate-initiated and led group was born inside the prison in 1989, called
Convicted Women Against Abuse (CWAA). Brenda’s revelation inspired this
support group, the first group of its kind in the entire US prison system.
The goal of the group is to help women inside prison break the silence about
abuse and learn more about how they can help others stop the cycle of
violence. Over the past 20 years, since the group was established, many
familiar faces remain… LaVelma
killed her husband, a pastor and pillar in the community. She never spoke a
word to her family, or church members, that her husband beat her on a regular
basis. She was embarrassed what others would think about what was happening
behind closed doors. She had faith that her husband would change. Joanne tried
to leave, but there were no options available to her. No shelters.
No hotlines. No help from the police. Yet, she knew she couldn't live
in her car with two kids and temperatures dropping. So she continued to
go back and the abuse for her, and her kids, got worse. Glenda ran
over her husband with her car in a public parking lot. He died at the scene.
A cut and dry murder case. Yet, why would a 45-year-old woman with no prior
criminal history brutally kill her husband? Instead of
fighting a system that does not fully comprehend the complexities of abuse,
CWAA led an initiative to help educate the system. Through careful
orchestration of letter writing campaigns, media coverage, and senate hearings,
a movement was born and laws were changed. And, finally, for Brenda Clubine
the flicker of hope begins to grow that her freedom from prison lies moments
away. Like many of
the CWAA women, Brenda’s years of inflicted abuse were never fully revealed
in her trial since, prior to 1992, California law did not allow a legal
defense to include evidence of battering. But because of CWAA’s advocacy,
news laws was set in place in 1992 and 2002 that allows incarcerated
survivors to utilize the defense of Battered Women’s Syndrome and even
challenge their original conviction. Because of those efforts, battered women
across the country are currently receiving lesser sentences and are now
permitted to seek a new trail if they were convicted before the laws recognized
the importance of expert testimony on the effects of battering. After 26
years on October 22, 2008, Brenda became the 20th CWAA member to gain her
freedom. A chance to walk on the beach. A chance to be with her son that she
was told died by the adoptive parents just after her incarceration. A chance
to continue her advocacy and be a voice for the women of CWAA in the free
world. Every other
Monday for over seven years, the director of SIN BY SILENCE, Olivia Klaus,
attended CWAA meetings and built incredibly close relationships with each of
the women, carefully capturing stories they never before felt capable of
giving voice to. Through their stories of terror and hope, the viewer can
begin to understand the cycle of violence, the signs of an abuser, and how
each and every one of us is responsible for changing the tragedy of domestic
violence. # # # |
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