October 22, 2009 — Lisa F. Jackson's 2008 Sundance Festival-winning film, "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo," will be shown Monday at 7 p.m. in Minor Hall room 190 at the University of Virginia. A discussion session will follow.

Since 1998, a brutal war has been raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 4 million people have died, and there are uncountable casualties: tens of thousands of women and girls have been systematically kidnapped, raped, mutilated and tortured by soldiers from both foreign militias and the Congolese army.

Emmy Award-winning producer-director Lisa F. Jackson spent 2006 in the war zones of Congo, documenting the tragic plight of women and girls in that country's intractable conflict. She was afforded privileged access to not only the grotesque realities of life in Congo, including interviews with self-confessed rapists, but also to examples of resiliency, resistance, courage and grace.

The event is sponsored by the U.Va. Women's Center's International Initiatives program. Refreshments and snacks provided. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

For information about the film, including a trailer, visit www.thegreatestsilence.org/about.