The true stories behind the myriad things we take for granted are often the most interesting. Most of us know the Miranda Rights, or at least its opening salvo: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be held against you in a court of law.” Few of us know the harrowing real-life story behind those words, and the suffering and courage which birthed them to existence. That’s whatMiranda’s Victim, a new star-studdedtrue crime drama, will explore when it releases Oct. 6. We have an exclusive clip and the trailer you can watch below.
The film’s all-star cast includes Abigail Breslin, Ryan Phillippe, Luke Wilson, Emily VanCamp, Mireille Enos, Enrique Murciano, Josh Bowman, Brent Sexton, Sebastian Quinn, Taryn Manning, Nolan Gould, Dan Lauria, Michael Mulheren, Kyle MacLachlan with Andy Garcia and Donald Sutherland. You can watch the official clip and read ’s Victimbelow:
The synopsis reads as follows:
“Based on true events, in 1963 eighteen-year-old Trish Weir (Abigail Breslin) is kidnapped and sexually assaulted. Her assailant, Ernesto Miranda (Sebastian Quinn), confesses without legal representation and serves a two-year sentence, only to have the verdict later overturned. In the resulting retrial, a determined prosecutor (Luke Wilson) seeks to hold Ernesto accountable for his crimes, despite grueling opposition from Ernesto’s defense attorney (Ryan Phillippe). What follows is a legal proceeding that forever changes the nation’s justice system.”
Miranda’s Victim Is Timelier Than Ever
The film is written by J. Craig Stiles and directed by Michelle Danner (The Runner, Bad Impulse, Hello Herman), and comes at a precarious time in the American legal system and culture at large. From abortion rights being sent back to the states and a right to choose becoming dependent on mere geography, to reporting of massive backlogs in rape kit tests, to powerful men being defended despite fact-laden allegations of their sexual crimes,Miranda’s Victimfeels timelier than ever. Danner said in her director’s statement:
“I have seen and directed many movies in which characters have been read their Miranda rights, but I never knew the true story behind those words and where they came from.The #MeToo movement emerged with victims coming forward recounting their experiences of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination, but in addition to highlighting that it is time for a change in both industry and awareness, it illustrated the long way we’ve come from 1963, when Patricia Weir, with unparalleled courage, came forward to tell her story.
“The first time I read the script and learned about Trish’s experience, it moved and inspired me. To my bewilderment, this story has never been told as a film and isn’t as widely known as one would expect, but it created important legislation in our country while at the same time forcing a woman to relive a nightmare in perpetuity.
“The script made me root for Trish to overcome her trauma and the societal pressures of the time, but also for the justice system to improve and fulfill its promise to this country despite its flaws. Studies estimate that only 4% of rapists in this country get brought to justice. This is an ongoing problem that many would like to ignore and are unaware when it comes to how deeply rooted in our culture it is.Miranda’s Victimis the story of the rape that changed America, and it’s a story that will not wait to be told any longer.”
MovieWeb’s own Olly Dyche wrote of the film in his review:
“It sports an exceptional cast led by a fantastic performance from Abigail Breslin, as well as a gripping script that will keep audiences hooked. Its production design is incredibly immersive, seamlessly sending audiences back in time to the ’60s.Miranda’s Victimis a captivating, emotional,and intense flick. It deals with its subject matter very delicately, without renouncing its horrific nature.”
From Vertical,Miranda’s Victimwill be in select theaters and on demand Oct. 6. You can watch the trailer below:
