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"The Invisible War" is Oscar-nominated documentarian Kirby Dick's latest exploration of something terribly wrong with a venerable institution. Previous targets of Dick's camera have been the Catholic Church and its handling of child abuse cases ("Twist of Faith,") closeted politicians undermining advances in gay rights ("Outrage,") and Hollywood's incomprehensible ratings system ("This Film is Not Yet Rated.") This time he takes on the U.S. Military and its abominable record in the handling of sexual assaults on and by active duty service people.

The film consists of interviews of victims of sexual assault with cases going back to the 1960's up to the present day. The victims (both male and female) relate the horror inflicted upon them – not just by their perpetrators, but by a military justice system that fails them. Many of the victims state that the pain the went through with the assault was nothing compared to the hell that they went through in their attempts to seek justice, proper medical and psychological care for their trauma, and to return to some sort of normalcy in their lives.

Filled with damning statistics (20% of all female military personnel have dealt with sexual assault – does that not bother you?) and interviews with bureaucrats (both military and political,) it's the personal stories of those who tried to serve their country that get to you. These men and women entered to honorably serve and were driven out by a system that believes it's more important to protect one's own (usually meaning an officer) rather than support their troops.

The film is a call to action to make one simple change to the current military system. The decision whether to prosecute a case is made by the site commander. Often, this commander knows or has a relationship with the accused. Does this not seem like a conflict of interest? The film highlights a group that is seeking to change that and encourages the viewer to express their outrage to those who might be able to change things. They want you to do more than slap an "I Support Our Troops" bumper sticker on your car. Will you really support your troops? Really? The facts, figures, and stories in "The Invisible War" should turn the stomach of every citizen of our nation, regardless of political affiliation. This is not a political issue. This is a criminal justice issue. This is a human rights issue.

This is activist filmmaking at its best.

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There are a number of things Invisible War does well.

1. It conveys a point of view.

2. It's about a compelling subject.

3. It has sympathetic characters.

4. It has a narrative arc, which is challenging. It relies on the lawsuit and Cioca's disability claim.

5. The cinematography, audio and film making don't draw attention to themselves and distract from the subject.

I was quoted in a book about sexual assault in the military. In that book the author made the assumption there was some golden age before sexual assault was a problem in the military, a claim she offered no proof of.

I mention this because it's possible to tell the story of rape and sexual assault in the military and get it wrong.

This film uses a pretty hard-and-straight approach. It sticks to cases that are pretty well documented to illustrate the statistical picture create by the military's own data.

And the film has a couple villains to root against. The Air Force major general and her civilian predecessor come off as part clueless and part immoral.

I am writing this review two days before Veteran's Day on purpose, not out of sheer, fortunate coincidence. When president Dwight Eisenhower declared November 11th a day of remembrance and observation for current war veterans and those who have died in combat, I highly doubt he knew that one day, there would be surrounding controversy that female members of the military were facing rape and sexual assault cases, and little was being done to punish those involved. Speaking as someone who loves the country he's been fortunate to be born into and someone who continuously supports, gives credit to, and thanks veterans for their service, this is an appalling and sickening feat that almost taints the entire military system as a whole.

Kirby Dick's The Invisible War is a film that will have an unprecedented impact on many of its viewers. Some of its viewers, hopefully young women contemplating serving in a specific branch, may second-guess their decision to join. Statistics show that 20% of women in the military have been raped, the second they are part of the military, their chances of rape increases by two, and the most terrifying statistic of all; 15% of recruits entering the military have raped someone before.

We meet several women raped under many different circumstances, who have served in the U.S. Coast Guard, the Navy, and even the Marines, yet can not escape the frighteningly real numbers. The main woman we follow throughout the film is Kori Cioca, a young member U.S. Coast Guard, who was brutally raped shortly after joining the military branch, and during the rape, she was slapped so hard on the left side of her face that it dislocated plates in her jaw, resulting in her only consuming soft foods and bearing only warm weather. Her struggle, now, is number one, receiving compensation and money from the VA, which is turning their back on her because her deployment was too brief to qualify for money or treatment, and number two, trusting males again (when we see her with her loving and devoted husband we see how nervous, unsettled, and provoked she feels with him in the room).

Aside from hearing cases and a number of devastating rape stories from women, Dick interviews lawyers who have worked on military rape cases and talks to a number of authors on the subject. One even states how that the punishment for rape is so lenient and miniscule that a person who has done drugs and is caught can be suspended for years, but a person who has raped another individual can be suspended for just a few weeks.

And if you believe this is a problem reserved for women then think again; 10% of men in the military are raped and we aren't deprived of hearing their shocking stories as well. One man who was a victim to the heinous crime states that it's a byproduct of the military's almost inherent homophobia, the outdated feeling of "the macho man," and the idea of power through narcissism. When will we, as a nation, overcome those three depressing qualities? It's hard to call The Invisible War "enjoyable" in the usual documentary-sense. It's one of the most impacting films of the year, and should be required classroom viewing at that. Director Kirby Dick is known for exploring institutions that are surrounded by grayness, such as the Catholic Church in Twist of Faith and the biased, inconsistent MPAA in This Film is Not Yet Rated. Unlike in those films, Dick remains silent, letting the larger stories speak first and him not giving his usual goofy spin on things. Considering how highly we praise and cherish our military, having this film come out, exposing the misogyny and disrespect to women in the male-dominated military, is a kick to the groin. Or possible a Miss Representation. As a viewer, you can decide.

Directed by: Kirby Dick.

The Invisible War not only us educates about the tragedy of rape in the military, about the cover-up of the crimes, but it educates us about the problem or rape in our society. The military commanders ignore and hide rapes and the statistics presented in the film of these crimes are important to note. I can't imagine anyone who actually saw this movie giving it less than an 8 ranking.

The interview of the victims is heartbreaking, and the interviews of those involved in the cover-up are aggravating. These women, and men, who face sexual assault in the military need our full support and the military culture must change. The movie is a powerful indictment of the military and a tribute to the strength of the survivors and their families and allies.

Peace, Tex Shelters

As one of the founders of the U.S. House of Representatives Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, I have written legislation that is now the law to help combat and prevent sexual assault in our armed forces and to help victims seek justice. "The Invisible War" is a moving and uncomfortable documentary about an unspeakable crime, and a culture that unacceptably turns a blind eye. It has been instrumental in focusing a national spotlight on a shocking issue that affects one in three returning female veterans. I am grateful to the makers of the film who went to extreme lengths to interview not only dozens of survivors, but also those who are working to break the pattern. This is an important film dedicated to ensuring that the stories of the courageous men and women it features, and the countless others who share their reality, receive the attention they deserve so that we can bring an end to the heartbreaking violence and injustice depicted in this film.

The Review

"The Invisible War," directed by Kirby Dick is an Oscar nominated documentary. The film explores the topic of sexual assault in the military from the perspective of 4 victims. The veterans share their truly heartbreaking stories. They show us the victim's family, and they comment on the assault as well. They all say the same thing, they were never the same. The title is more than fitting, of 3,374 cases of sexual assault reported only 484 cases went to trial and a mere 376 were actually convicted. But more than 70% of assaults go unreported.

They do interview some military officials and ask for them to comment. Their interviews seemed short and the interviewer may have been asking bias questions. They asked the head of the Prevention of Sexual Assault campaign how many cases go unreported. The women stated that she did not have that information, the interviewer then asked another question regarding unreported assaults. She again said she didn't know that information. The director made her look not credible and depicted her as stupid.

The film explores what they believe to be a reasonable solution to the rising number of assault cases. They believe that crimes in the military should be prosecuted by an unbiased third party. Currently an officer's Commander acts as their judge, jury, and executioner. Most women are punished or shamed when they try to report a crime. Many can't report because the superior they report to was the attacker. But how do you prosecute an active soldier? You would have to pull their entire unit for a proper investigation. They would need witness statements, evidence, lawyers and everything else needed for a fair trial. Can we really afford to be taking active units out of their war zones? Our military needs to operate smoothly and seamlessly. If soldiers and officers are constantly being taken out of work to be questioned and to testify, how will we get anything done? Overall I thought it was a very compelling film, I just wish we could've gotten a more well rounded picture.

'THE INVISIBLE WAR': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Heartbreaking documentary about sexual assault in the United States military and how it effects the soldiers involved (as well as their loved ones). It deals with ongoing unresolved cases and interviews victims of assault as well as military personnel, law makers, family members and others. The film was written and directed by filmmaker Kirby Dick (who also helmed the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary 'THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED' and many others). The movie is extremely hard to sit through and watch and that's how you know it's so effective.

The film centers on a handful of sexual assault victims who are interviewed about their assault (or assaults in most cases) as well as joining the military, events leading up to the crime(s) and their troubles finding justice afterwards. It addresses many of the reasons why most victims can't find any sympathy or justice within the military system and argues that these cases should be handled outside their military units. Often the commanders investigating the cases are either friends with the suspect or the suspect being accused themselves. The film provides many shocking statistics and goes over the history of the problem in the military, which has been going on for multiple decades now. The filmmakers interview both female and male victims (which are frequently raped in the military as well).

The documentary is one of those films that's hard to review and rate because it's not entertaining or inspiring in any way (as it very much shouldn't be). It's extremely painful to watch and it's definitely not a film I can say I liked or enjoyed. That's how I know it's a great film though. It's disturbing, informative and also very emotional. The testimony by the victims and their friends and family members is gut wrenching. Many of those being interviewed are often very open in their discussion of the subject matter and have a very hard time holding it together emotionally. The film feels very honest and genuine above all else. It's definitely a well made documentary as well as a very important and informative one. It's of course not one anyone will look forward to (or enjoy) watching but it's one that should be seen by most everyone, all the same.

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American female soldiers are more likely to be raped by a fellow service member than killed by enemy fire. Only 14% of those attacked come out and report their abuse, and only 8% of men accused with sexual assault are prosecuted. Such disconcerting facts make up the bulk of provo documentarian Kirby Dick's Oscar-shortlisted documentary The Invisible War (whose previous documentaries include Twist of Faith and This Film is Not Yet Rated). Treating the issue as an epidemic and plague, Dick confronts the subject, the witnesses and the culprits head-0n, and certainly doesn't give us much in the way of respite.

A very tough movie, aside from the increasingly traumatic, revelations of misconduct, the subsequent cover-ups and the quasi-normalised nature of such events, Dick shouts the issue at us with continuous factoid title cards and harrowed talking head interviews with victims of rape and abuse, their families, and blind-sited state officials. Although some of these interviews have the desired impact, an onslaught of them for three quarters of the movie borders on the aggressive and exploitative. It's cold, neither cinematically compelling or emotionally engaging, and some more personal touches, credible investigative journalism or involved authorship would have stopped The Invisible War from feeling like a lecture that berates the ill-informed audience.

Even if the documentary structure is formulaic and forgettable, the subject matter certainly isn't. Allegedly the biggest cover-up in the USA's military history, Kirby Dick gives a voice to the voiceless, and the film has already made significant changes: shaking up the Secretary of Defence, bureaucratic case handling and encouraging victims to oust their attackers. Baby steps in the right direction, The Invisible War is an aggravated and enraging documentary, but no doubt an important one too.

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What I saw on this Doc is a National Disgrace, and I can imagine what women and certain men also endure in foreign occupations.

So girls...as I see it, the only way you're going to have a career in the military is to be tall, muscular, have a black belt in martial arts, carry a concealed knife or other blunt object and not be afraid to smash a chair over a drunk's head or crash your booted foot across his face. No make-up or revealing clothes...please.

Never, ever drink in a military man's presence and if forced to then carry a secret empty container in your pocket in which to pour your shots and then off to the toilet.

The military is no dream job and unless you can face the truth stay in a civilian home girl's job. You were accepted into the military because it needs meat to throw to the hungry predators. Wake up and get some street smarts and so sorry. Keep on fighting for your rights, but accept the truth about humans because they are capable of ANYTHING.

(2012) The Invisible War DOCUMENTARY Co-written, directed and interviewed by Kirby Dick possessing an examination of sexual harassment and assault victims within the US military, with interviews spawning from war veterans, who has served since the Vietnam war all the way through to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the problems I had with this is that we don't even get to see the people who're accused of this which makes these stories so one-sided , but it could be the result that there are no protocol in place to expose the perpetrators who're accused even though the victims have the physical scars to prove it including DNA. I also don't think that all people who's served within the US military all do this, and that there should be some protocol put in place to ensure that people who're serving in general shouldn't have to put up with this since some recruits may already have a questionable background. From watching this documentary makes one to think that perhaps if people who are motivated to joined the US military also needs to have a background check before allowed to join.

"Speak up.. speak up... speak up. The only one you will scare away is your future x husband" and our future x military service! (Reviving Ophelia)

Three cheers for the sexual assault survivors who are speaking up both in this documentary and in their lawsuit.

Yes it really did happen!!

It is a criminal justice issue and a human rights issue!

Sexually abused individuals often go into a hypnotic trance to keep the abuse a secret and know what it feels like to be in the perpetrators shoes.

Breaking the silence, is breaking the trance that perpetuates the cycle of abuse!

As a therapist with some experience working at the rape crisis center, I was horrified just observing the affect of the patriarchal woman in charge of the sexual assault prevention program. All she could talk about was the buddy program as if this would stop predators stalking their prey?

One rape survivor was blamed "what can you expect for walking down a hallway alone with a bunch of drunken soldiers in each room".

The military must attract extreme narcissists and alcoholics who are so cut off from their own feelings that they do not honor others.

I pray that the survivors will have a successful appeal and the military will be held accountable for these injustices!

Kirby Dick's The Invisible War is an unsettling and scathing examination of sexual assault within branches of the US military (the Army, Marines, Air Force, etc.) that dives into its topics with various levels of emotional involvement. The interviews of the victims are raw, unfiltered, and unflinching, and are, indeed, very tragic. To also see the corruption and lengths to cover up and distract from the truth – such as unintentionally hilarious commercials advising about assault in the army – is practically infuriating. Kirby Dick makes for a strong interviewer, nailing his topics, letting the victims speak their mind, and leaving the guilty parties shaking in their boots, trying and failing miserably to lie through their teeth. Emotions will be put to a workout.

****1/2 out of *****

so you love your country, you love the military, you are patriotic, and you come from the military family tree, you love the uniform, you love the g.i. bill. when you are under fire, you rely on your soldier comrades to help you fighting back and remain alive. but when you are raped, all these kind of illusion are gone, your whole life is shattered, you suffer untreatable damages not just your body but your soul, your faith, your patriotism. all those you believed before suddenly become lies. the united states military forces suddenly become a huge monster that you would never know how to deal with. these accusations only fall on deaf ears. suddenly you become a slot, an adulterer, a shameless bitch, damaging the military reputation. the raped ones not only become the victims when they were raped by either their comrades or their superior ranking officers. so they are threatened to become a second-time victims. where is the justice, where are the constitution rights and human rights for those who were being raped and continuously being raped? the American government always like to meddle with other countries' human rights but they can't even justify what their own citizens' basic human rights. the American government is the biggest lying and phony entity in the world and probably in the whole universe.

This was very powerful and absolutely true. There is no recourse for victims in the military. They go after the victim and protect the predator in order that they can continue to hurt others. This should not be tolerated. Dr. Whitley and Major Hertog's views are just prolonging the issue and blaming the victim. If they we're in this situation they would understand how impossible it is to get any help. This is a real problem and I hope that it will not continue.

I was a male rape counselor for two years for a city in California. I am pro-women and have even wrote a book called PEARLS FOR GIRLS IN SEEKING CUPID Don't BE STUPID. I said all that to say this. The world is not ultra friendly in favor of women so that puts the responsibility on men to include them and their welfare along with our own. Therein lies the problem. Men, help themselves to women instead of helping them. Plain and simple. Women also play a role but not as portrayed like asking or wanting to be raped. NO. They fail to listen to their common sense and in some cases find it prudent to go along to survive. There is no formal training on what to do if raped in a state of peace. If they were drugged, its even worse. In civilian life, bringing a perpetrator to justice harms the victim more than the defendant. One trial I attended just smeared the woman who was drugged. I applaud them for surviving and then having to endure the aftermath both public and private. In the world of the military, if a commanding officer says to do or not do, then it is law. So how come rape exists? If I was a colonel, I would have everyone assembled and make this announcement. The first time I hear of any sex complaints involving any of you, I will end your life as you know it. This is your heads-up. After this, heads roll. Dismissed! Then, all officer and non-coms are to support that right down to where they all live and breath. The weeding out of the trouble-makers is commands responsibility. I will say this too because it has to be said. Please, no arguments either. The idea of women in the military may work if isolated and directed. This coming together is asking for trouble similar to letting to teen-age kids date alone. I stayed on Camp Lejeune base for a week. All I saw was walking talking testosterone "on" trained killers with nothing to do. If we had an enemy at the time, the Marines would kill them all just to release their pent-up training, egos, hormones and purposes. Barring that, there were fights, drinking and other things that free time with nothing to do brings about. Having women in this situation is not smart unless training, direction, instruction and correction is strictly enforced. If a military female was taken captive by enemy forces, history teaches that they are the spoils of war. The military itself sees it as a calculated risk of which I report with sadness. I'm sorry but it is true. Yet, I would fight to the death to prevent that happening or to effect a rescue because it is the right thing to do. If one of us was captured and tortured, then all of us suffer until it is corrected. The idea of preying on a someone who is on the same side is revolting. Thank you for this fine reporting of a most delicate subject matter. One very important last thing. Those that are in power, who can shake and move and make changes need to take clear and precise action. If this is going on during your watch, you are part of it. Yes, YOU ARE

Rape in the military is about as thorny and intractable a problem as deciding whether to go to mid-east war or not. The Invisible War solidly makes the argument that the military judicial process for rape is deeply flawed, if only because commanders are given the absolute right and power to determine how the accusations are handled.

Think about it: the commander could be the assailant or a friend and can dismiss a case with little recourse for the aggrieved soldier. This documentary hammers home both statistically and in practice how frustrating the process can be, sometimes leading to suicide. A recent court decision that rape is an "occupational hazard" doesn't help anything.

At the least, husbands and wives become tense or split; rarely is a marriage unaffected by the rape. For singles, the sympathy is not overwhelming, and without a support group, it is lonely out there to take on the chain of command. In a macho world where team attitude is high priority, rape allegations are not welcomed, especially if the rapist is the commanding officer.

As I find in many documentaries, only one side is examined (Michael Moore being the leading exponent of the lopsided argument). In the case of The Invisible War, we are well served with victims who get no satisfaction, but we don't experience fully the case where the accused is found to have been wronged by the accuser. However, the doc does an effective job with the stories of women who accused but rarely gained a conviction.

The percentage of adjudicated cases where the accused is found guilty is small. Given the thousands of allegations, that number seems too small. At any rate, after seeing this documentary, Secretary of Defense made a bold decision that confirms the efficacy of a well-made documentary.

In the United States Military, each branch of the armed services has an honor code that belies the ideals of principle, courage, and integrity that they strive to instill on each respective serviceman. The Air Force has "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does." The other services all have something similar to this that are spoken in the form of an oath when a serviceman is commissioned to be an officer. This movie shows how this code can be disregarded in the most horrendous ways. The fact that this is still a problem for the woman and men of the armed forces is a stain on our country's honor. There shouldn't be any fear of rape or assault by a fellow recruit, serviceman, or officer in a woman's—or man's—mind when he or she enters the organization that is responsible for our very safety. Due to this movie as well as the actions and voices of victims, supporters and policy makers, real change is starting to happen.

Personally speaking, the movie is very professionally made, engaging, and eye opening. All the claims they make are well supported by evidence and statistics, and the call for reform and change is a powerful message that is finally beginning to be heeded. I would highly recommend anyone that interested in the armed services, both male and female, should watch this movie. The message conveyed is a somber and important one. That said, I am not asserting that one shouldn't join the armed forces because of this problem, simply that anyone interested should make an informed decision on what they are getting into. This problem is being addressed, and hopefully in the future this problem will disappear completely.

Whether we're talking about the Catholic Church or the U. S. military, what's most perturbing and infuriating about the sexual abuse that happens within those institutions is the institutions and the response from those institutions. The institutions are viewed as sanctified and holy, or something that inspires awe or deserves reverence. Whoever is a member of those institutions, by extension, is viewed the same way, and in the case of the military they are viewed as brothers. Still, they are fallible humans in those uniforms. But the institution--the institution is bigger and largely infallible. So when the institution implements a system and culture of silence and cover up-- words can't express the level of fury and sadness.

"The Invisible War" is about sexual assault in the military and the subsequent dismissal of the complaints and the complainants. And when I say dismissal of the complainant I mean that their complaint is dismissed and in some cases they themselves are dismissed from the military while their attackers are lightly punished if they're punished at all. It is an emotional documentary that's difficult to watch, especially if you are in the military or sentimental about the military.

The topic covered in "The Invisible War" is no surprise. The military is all about machismo. The troops feel the need to validate themselves by sexually assaulting both men and women (mostly women, though). And sure enough, the repeated instances of sexual assault have gotten covered up. In the wake of the MeToo movement, this seems all the more important.

Winner of an Emmy and nominated for an Academy Award, this documentary deserves more attention. It poses a serious question: who are we that we keep letting this happen? I fully recommend it.

Another documentary that briefly addressed this topic is "Hot Coffee". It featured an interview with a woman whose fellow cadets drugged and raped her in Iraq.