Watch This: Keira Knightley in Domestic Abuse PSA
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Politics, Trailers and Clips
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We're used to seeing women in peril on the big screen every day; Mary Sues, damsels in distress, call it what you want -- but the sad truth is that for most women, being victimized isn't just limited to the box office. The recent events surrounding Rhianna and Chris Brown have brought the issue of domestic abuse into the spotlight once again, and the disturbing fact remains that most young girls still have some very strange ideas about what constitutes abuse. So while most celebrities don't like to be role models (because they need role models themselves), it's nice to see someone in 'Young Hollywoood' take a stand. Keira Knightley is now starring in a PSA that will be shown on TV and in theaters in the UK about domestic violence for the charity Women's Aid.
The ad has Knightley leaving the set to come home to a jealous and abusive boyfriend, as the abuse continues you see the camera pull away with the tag line, "Isn't it time someone called cut?" as you hear Knightley screaming in the background. The shocking (but highly effective) spot was directed by Joe Wright, who directed Atonement and Pride and Prejudice with Knightley and everyone involved devoted their time for free for the PSA. The ad will begin airing in the UK on April 6th, with an extended version shown in theaters in front of over 15 films.
Do Wright and Knightley take things too far here in depicting domestic violence, or do you feel it's necessary to take things to a very nasty place in order to get the message across?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-02-2009 @ 5:36PM
shadowracer said...
That isn't working. If I didn't know that was to stop domestic abuse I would have assumed it was some sort of message about the economy kicking you while you're down.
It's because there's blood when she comes home, it looks like she caught the dude on a bad day - it is still domestic violence, but I don't think that this little setup has the sting they intended it to have.
She's still too skinny(You too Angie).
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4-02-2009 @ 6:12PM
L.G. said...
Do you have any idea how stupid your comment sounds?
A pertinent, serious issue nobly and boldly tackled in a clever PSA and you make an incredibly weak economy joke and then go on to heavily imply that the man's actions are somehow even partially justified because it seemed to you like the woman "caught the dude on a bad day"? Really? Unbelievable. And then you top off the idiocy with a dollop of objectification. "Too skinny"? Of what significance is that?
The blood and the broken mirror works brilliantly as cinematic shorthand to quickly convey a person with alarming anger management issues and emotional/mental instability. Jackass.
Hats off to Mr. Wright, Ms. Knightley and the anonymous male actor for their excellent work in this short. I would love for the full version of this PSA to run in theaters and such here in support of a Stateside counterpart organization like NOW or something. It would be a lot more meaningful and helpful than another pointless Jonas Brothers music video or jingoistic ad for the National Guard.
4-02-2009 @ 5:36PM
Eric said...
Ummmm I guess it works. Now i have never seen domestic violence first hand. But it seems a bit over the top. But then again what do I know.
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4-02-2009 @ 6:03PM
Rose said...
Its shocking, but it does exactly what it sets out to do - hits the viewer hard enough to make a donation to a charity that helps REAL victims get out of an abusive situation.
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4-02-2009 @ 6:07PM
vegimorph said...
that is a good message to promote. I'm a guy but I still think its great. the only problem is, if i walked into an apartment and saw broken glass with blood, i would RUN, not stand around confused
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4-02-2009 @ 7:23PM
Kate said...
Jesus Christ. That's exactly it. I'm really lucky to have never been in an abusive relationship, but the shit some of my girl friends have been through is unbelievable. One had a knife pulled on her by her ex-husband, she got away by pure luck, and this was after he'd been arrested several times and got a restraining order. It seems over the top unless you've been there.
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4-02-2009 @ 11:56PM
Dan said...
Damn. That was really intense. But personally, I think this is something that people take for granted in a lot of cases. People's attitudes about this subject are not nearly close to where they need to be. Brutal, yes, but I've seen this kind of thing happen, and it happens every day. I think this was...I hate to use such the word great, but it was a great ad, because it really forces you to look the violence and irrationatily in the eye.
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4-03-2009 @ 1:32AM
shadowracer said...
A tactfully done doc would probably do more good than a PSA. Other than the title, which you get at the end, there's no context. She shows up at a guys house...In A Movie(ughh)...and gets beaten up.
The whole premise that she's in a film works with the "don't you wish someone could say cut", but it does take you out of reality.
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4-03-2009 @ 4:36AM
L.G. said...
Ummm....that's kind of the point.
You, the unaffected viewer, are observing the events at a safe distance whilst the woman, like countless victims of domestic abuse, are trapped in a traumatic, tragic situation without the ability to easily extricate themselves from the harshness of their own day-to-day reality. The metaphorical framing device for the PSA is perfect.
And even without the text at the end, I don't really see how one would be confused as to the intent and subject matter of the short.
4-03-2009 @ 1:18PM
Jessica said...
To Eric:
Please realize, coming from someone that has been in a domestically violent relationship, that the depiction above is not overdone. While this may come across as shocking and intense, I can assure you that if ever put in the situation, what is shown above is a mildly terrifying reality.
Kudos to Mr. Wright and Ms. Knightley; I hope this PSA opens the eyes of those who have so easily closed them.
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4-03-2009 @ 2:15PM
William said...
Video has been removed?
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4-04-2009 @ 2:47AM
victoria said...
This ad is not overdone and may be seen as such only by those who are not familiar with such brutality first hand and have grown desensitized by the accepted movie violence or some idiotic notion that it only happens in a particular socio-economic portion of society. If it promopts one bystander (family member, friend, etc) to offer help to the person who is in such (or any degree lesser) situation, this marvellous though shocking ad, then it has served well. This happens at all earning/education/demographics levels - ALL! I was there nearly 20 years ago, carrying my Coach briefcase and signing documents with a Mont Blanc pen, but came home to a violent boyfriend. I covered my bruises in expensive clothes and suffered in silence becuase I was embarassed. I was too proud to ask for help because 1. 'people like us' didn't have such things happen and I didn't want anyone to know my shame 2. If someone so horrid thought i was crap, then why would someone good want me. It didn't start like this and escalated over time. I survived but was lucky - his parting words to me were 'I'll kill you before someone else gets to be with you'. It destroyed my confidence for years afterwards. Even my best friends didn't know because I became an expert make up artist.
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