In 'Loud Enough – Surviving Justice,' a Kansas college student takes on the justice system
The Tallgrass Film Festival documentary selection by director Hilary Klotz Steinman tells the story of a Bethany College student who fought to hold her rapist accountable. It screens at Century II on October 25.
Most of us have the reasonable expectation that crime victims will receive justice when sufficient evidence is presented to the authorities.
In “Loud Enough – Surviving Justice,” director Hilary Klotz Steinman follows the story of Madison Smith, who survived a life-threatening sexual assault in her dorm at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.
Despite a confession from the perpetrator and an internal investigation that found him guilty, the Kansas criminal justice system failed Smith. With the help of her parents and other sexual assault advocates, she took matters into her own hands, experiencing a succession of encouraging victories as well as disheartening lapses of justice.
Contrary to a common misconception, often defined as a “rape myth,” most victims of sexual violence know their perpetrator. Smith was no different. She considered her rapist a trusted friend, someone she never suspected would harm her. However, on the night of February 11, 2018, their paths crossed while doing laundry in a Bethany College dorm, and her life changed forever.
“Loud Enough” captures the love and support that came to hold Smith during a period of tremendous trauma and heartache. Her parents were not only emotionally supportive, but they were also unyielding in their daughter’s legal battle. The parental perspective in the documentary demonstrates the heart-wrenching nature of watching your child survive an incomprehensible attack.
Unfortunately, the story in “Loud Enough” echoes one common amongst survivors of sexual violence. Less than 1% of rapes and attempted rapes in the US end in a conviction. Despite compelling evidence and cooperation with local authorities, the system meant to protect Smith let her down. A local prosecutor dismissed her case as “immature sex,” despite more than meeting Kansas law’s definition of rape. Instead, prosecutors pushed for an aggravated battery charge, which carries a lesser sentence and doesn’t include sex offender status. To Smith, this invalidated her experience and was not reflective of the justice she’d been fighting for.
There are no true happy endings in stories of sexual assault. Smith’s case demonstrates how hard some survivors fight for due process, and the documentary serves as a painful reminder that many will never see justice at all. “Loud Enough” takes on the heavy task of showing its audience just what “surviving justice” means. The film examines a broken system, but it also suggests how we can hold elected officials accountable and how both family members and the wider community can support someone experiencing unimaginable pain.
The Details
"Loud Enough — Survivng Justice" Tallgrass Film Festival Screening
11:30 a.m. Friday, October 25, at Century II (Peach 201), 225 W. Douglas Avenue in Wichita
$7
Learn more and buy tickets for this screening. The film will also be available to stream online during the week after the film festival. You can also buy Tallgrass Film Festival passes and multi-ticket packs online.
Kate Nance is a Kansas-born, Wichita-based independent writer covering local music, art, and culture. In previously published work, she has explored topics including public art, creative placemaking, artist perspectives, and displacement.
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