When choosing this movie, starring Sean Astin, Gina Phillips, and Adam Rodriguez, I was expecting a little lighthearted romance. Little did I know that writer/director Jessica Kavana would be working some hard hitting issues into the mix. Jordan (Gina Phillips) is a Latin American Jew who dreams of bigger things than settling down with "one of her kind." She joins the Debate team as a senior and finds a gift that takes her all the way to Harvard. Along the way, she is raped by a fellow debater and chooses to throw herself into life without saying a word out of shame and embarrassment (not to mention shock and denial).
I had no idea that I would be facing some startling parallels of my own with this character. Although the film passed gently over Jordan's healing process (including throwing her dreams away in a bad sexual relationship, drug and alcohol use, and losing her scholarship). It did attempt to address the issue (even including a glimpse at body memories), which is more than most modern media does. It was intriguing to watch a character work her own way through the "victim" mentality and come out strong in the end - strong enough to face her rapist eye to eye.
What I liked most about this movie was its positive energy and strength. Jordan, determined not to have everything stolen from her, pushed herself instead of hiding in the fear. In the end, she learned how to trust her own instincts again and even free her heart. As a survivor of abuse and rape, I know that trusting yourself - your own judgement - is one of the most difficult things to relearn. It is possible and I am glad to see an important story like this portrayed on film.
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