The purpose of presenting a conflict to the audience is to provide them with a
case study in an effort to humanize the fact based issue. The issue can only be
humanized if the audience can believe the individuals in the case study to be
human. The Accused tries to set this tone to Sara's character early on in the
movie. Soon after the rape Sara tries to make contact with her mother. Whereas
Sara has something to tell her mother, all her mother can do is put Sara on the
defensive about getting in trouble or needing money. When being questioned as
such all Sara can do is deny that there is anything wrong. Sara, at this point
is the loneliest person in the world: she does not have anyone to turn to. She
does not have anyone she can talk to or anyone to comfort her. Some of the
audience will be able to relate to the emptiness that Sara is feeling. And what
about those people in the audience who have had similar experiences with one of
their parents. Even though that person has never been raped, or is a man and does
not have to worry about rape, he or she will be able to relate to Sara. Once
they can picture themselves in Sara's role the purpose of the movie has been
fulfilled; the audience now empathize with Sara and the movies' message has been
passed on.
Return to week eight, or to the syllabus. ritu:-)