A new Netflix series based on true events delves into the world of rape, false accusations and victim-blaming.
Unbelievable is based on Pulitzer Prize-winning article 'An Unbelievable Story Of Rape', which tells the story of teenager Marie who is charged with lying about rape, and the two female detectives who seek to uncover the truth.
The award-winning reporting told the true story of an 18-year-old girl who reported being raped at knife point in 2008. The girl told detectives how a man had entered her home and raped her, before binding her with shoelaces and taking photos of her, which he threatened to post online should she tell anyone.
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Nevertheless, the girl reported the rape, but within days, her story, investigated by male detectives, was thrown into doubt. The girl then retracted her accusation and passed it off as a vivid dream. The next year, she was charged with false reporting of a rape and took a plea deal.
In 2011, two female detectives caught her rapist when they began investigating similar intruder rapes.
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In the adaptation, Marie is played by Kaitlyn Dever of Booksmart, while female detectives Edna Hendershot and Stacy Galbraith, are taken on by Little Miss Sunshine's Toni Collette and Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever. Danielle Macdonald Birdbox makes up the main cast as a victim of a similar rape in a neighbouring town.
The eight episode limited series was created by director Susannah Grant, with American novelist Michael Chabon, mystery novelist Ayelet Waldman, Sarah Timberman, Carl Beverly, and American journalist and broadcaster Katie Couric on board as executive producers.
Though the names of the victims are fictionalised, the details of the case depicted in the series are said to ring true with the real events. In all, it's likely to be a tough watch.
Unbelievable is due to hit Netflix on 13th September 2019.
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For support and advice, visit Rape Crisis here.
Topics: Entertainment News, Life News, Real, TV Entertainment, Netflix