Silenced Review: Glossy Portrait of Human Rights Lawyer Jennifer Robinson Is Too Diffuse To Make Its Point

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The documentary Silenced feels conflicted and struggles to find its focus. While it aims to explore the intense reaction to the #MeToo movement, the film tries to cover too much ground and becomes scattered. Although the stories it highlights are important, the film loses impact by not centering on the experiences of those most affected.

This documentary focuses on Jennifer Robinson, an Australian human rights lawyer who advocates for women facing abuse around the world, including in Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and London. She’s known for representing high-profile clients, most famously Amber Heard in her legal battle with Johnny Depp in England. While Heard’s case is compelling, the film constantly returns to it, making Silenced often feel more like a sensationalized tabloid story than a serious look at Robinson’s broader work.

I have to say, Miles’ film really got to me – it’s designed to make you furious, and it absolutely works. He focuses on cases, like Amber Heard’s, where the outcome just feels so wrong, so clearly a miscarriage of justice. Honestly, watching Silenced, I found myself constantly shaking my head or just wanting to shout at the screen. Everyone always calls people who speak out against powerful figures ‘brave,’ and it feels like a cliché, but it’s honestly the only word that fits. It takes real courage to step into a fight you know you’re probably going to lose, legally and publicly.

Robinson and Miles provide a fascinating look at the history of defamation, showing how it evolved from a time when women were considered property of their husbands to the present day. Robinson clearly explains that current defamation laws, in some ways, offer a similar form of recourse as men once had when their wives voiced dissent.

Following the revelations about Harvey Weinstein, many lawsuits claiming defamation of character have emerged. Often, when someone like Johnny Depp wins a defamation case, it silences those who have experienced abuse and prevents them from publicly sharing their stories. For example, Justin Baldoni attempted to discredit Blake Lively’s legitimate accusations by portraying her as unstable. Similarly, Geoffrey Rush successfully sued The Telegraph after the newspaper reported accusations made by his former theater colleagues.

While the film beautifully showcases Tarana Burke’s important work, it doesn’t adequately represent the many women the #MeToo movement overlooked. This includes women who lacked financial resources, and particularly women of color, who were often excluded from broader conversations about women’s rights and speaking out.

Silenced effectively introduces the shortcomings of the #MeToo movement and highlights the ongoing need to address unconscious gender bias within the legal system.

The film particularly highlights two compelling figures: Sibongile Ndashe, who empowers women in Johannesburg, and Brittany Higgins, who bravely shared her story of being sexually assaulted by Australian MP Bruce Lehrmann. Higgins’ experience unfortunately echoes the treatment of Monica Lewinsky, who faced unwarranted accusations of dishonesty after coming forward with her story.

While the documentary provides a good introduction to understanding the shortcomings of the #MeToo movement and the ongoing need to address gender bias in legal settings, it relies too heavily on high-profile cases like those involving Amber Heard, Bill Clinton, and others. This approach feels somewhat superficial and doesn’t fully illustrate the systemic disadvantages women face in the courtroom. The film also tends to idealize the central figure, and the overly dramatic musical score detracts from its impact.

While the film Silenced briefly acknowledges the daily reality of assault, particularly in Mexico City, it doesn’t fully explore the experiences of those without resources or legal protection. Until everyday people—not just celebrities—can see themselves represented on screen, those facing difficult and dangerous situations may continue to suffer in silence.

Silenced screened at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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2026-01-25 00:12