The Accused is very realistic in it's portrayal of a rape and accurately follows the sequence of events that happen following a rape incident. It is important that the movie doesn't fabricate any of the steps because accuracy is what makes the movie believable. The audience sees the rape incident which is very graphic and they believe that this has actually occurred or could occur to others. The movie is accurate and goes in depth about what happens after you are raped. Some directors may leave this information out thinking it's just an extraneous information, but this accuracy gives the movie it's credibility. By taking the audience into the hospital, they see that the humiliation doesn't end after the rape, but continues in the hospital where she is examined after being raped. She is forced to reveal her wounds while two nurses take pictures and notes and she is probed by one of the nurse to collect any semen that may still be left inside of her. The movie also shows the legal procedure that follows a rape incident including the loop holes where it doesn't even look like the victim is raped. In The Accused, the District Attorney makes a deal with the defense without the consent of her client. The charges are lessened to "sexual misconduct" and the attackers are sent to prison for maximum of five years, but will probably get out in nine months. Today people are no longer shocked by early releases because it happens so often; thus it makes the movie more believable to the audience. The superior acting by Jodie Foster who plays Sara adds the finishing touch to make the movie believable. She brings the character to life and it is hard to tell that Sara is actually a fictitious character. All these aspects work together in making the movie believable to the audience.
Appealing to the audience's emotion is definitely the strongest part of the movie. The movie is so graphic and realistic that you can't help being moved emotionally. The characters in the movie seem so real that you have to take the movie seriously. The very beginning introduction where Sara runs out of the bar with her clothes ripped off is a very good attention getter and her testimony in the court is so realistic that you want to believe her. Her facial expression, the tone of voice, and the choice of words are very powerful and effective. The rape scene is also so real that it makes your blood boil. This is very important because the movie has to be taken seriously so that the audience will consider it a serious problem in our society. This will result in action to be taken which is the ultimate goal of a movie that offers a solution for a societal problem.