The Light of the Moon 2017

The Light of the Moon

The Light of the Moon

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About The Light of the Moon 💬

• Stop sexual violence.

Bonnie Gonzales (Stephanie Beatriz), a young and successful Latina architect, is sexually assaulted while walking home from an evening out with friends in Brooklyn. At first, she attempts to keep the assault a secret from her long-term boyfriend Matt (Michael Stahl-David), but the truth quickly emerges. Bonnie emphatically denies the impact of what has just happened to her. She fights to regain normalcy and control of her life, but returning to her old life is more complicated than expected. Her attempt to recapture the intimacy she previously had with Matt falters and cracks begin to surface in their relationship. Another attack in the neighborhood only drives Bonnie further into denial, before an encounter with an at-risk woman causes her to face the truth and confront her own self-blame.

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON is Jessica M. Thompson's feature directorial debut.

• DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON intimately and realistically explores the six weeks after a woman is sexually assaulted during a night out with friends in New York City. I am humbled to tell this important story, especially at such a crucial time, when rape culture has become prolific on campuses, in our media, and in our power structures. The film, told solely from the perspective of a female rape survivor, is based on personal accounts from two of my friends, who unfortunately endured similar experiences. The story is also supported by subsequent extensive research with other rape survivors, social workers, health professionals, lawyers, and law enforcement officers. My background in documentary filmmaking is evidenced by the research behind the script, and the utmost importance placed on naturalistic and authentic performances on screen.

Stephanie Beatriz transforms as the film's Latina protagonist, Bonnie, and delivers a raw, honest, and emotionally captivating performance. Bonnie is present on camera in all scenes and the story is told entirely from her unadulterated viewpoint. This is not a courtroom drama, nor a tale of revenge - it's a deeply intimate portrait of how one's everyday life and closest relationships change after experiencing tragedy. Other notable performances include Bonnie's long- term boyfriend, played by Michael Stahl-David, Bonnie's gay best friend, played by Conrad Ricamora and the District Attorney, played by Catherine Curtin.

I trained as an actor from the ages of 12 to 21, and also recently returned to the craft. As an 'actor's director,' my priority is always to create a safe and open set, in order for the actors to feel empowered to discover the subtle nuances of their characters. Leading up to principal photography, I encouraged my actors to meet with as many people, whom have shared similar experiences, so they can gain create a deep empathetic connection with their character. In this way, my actors are able to create multifaceted characters that are driven by complex back-stories and deep understanding.

In the United States alone, one in five women will be raped in her lifetime. This statistic is horrific and has no place in a modern, ''equal'' society. Yet, considering the amount of people who are affected by sexual assault in the world, it is an issue very few people want to discuss and it has rarely been portrayed in film and television in a realistic manner. There has been a spike of films and television shows using rape as a ''plot point'', but without showing the impact on the victim. Or, as seen in Academy-Award- nominated ''Elle,'' MTV's ''Sweet/Revenge,'' or ''The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo,'' there is a tendency to unrealistically portray women avenging their assault and attacking their rapists. The likelihood of this in reality is beyond rare, and I think this adds - in some part - to society's rape culture of victim blaming, by arguing that the victim should have fought back more. This is precisely why this film needs to be seen around the world; so we can open the dialogue and lift the stigma associated with sexual assault.

Ultimately, I want to give a voice to those who are often unheard, tell the stories that are unseen, and challenge the notions of what is considered ''acceptable'' cinema. As we began production on THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, news of the Stanford Rape Case went viral and the rape survivor's testimonial affirmed that this is a film that needs to be made and seen. For far too long, rape has been shrouded in secrecy due to the stigma placed by society on survivors of rape, which often results in victim blaming. Though it is a controversial topic, I strongly believe that sexual assault and violence against women needs to be more openly explored through art and widely discussed at all levels of society if we are to make any real change.

Jessica M. Thompson

The Light of the Moon Movie Details 🎥

Directed by

Jessica M. Thompson

Writing Credits

Jessica M. Thompson

Starring

Stephanie Beatriz

Michael Stahl-David

Conrad Ricamora

Ashley Van Egeren

Olga Merediz

Catherine Curtin

Jennifer Bareilles

Michael Cuomo

Susan Heyward

Christine Spang

Cara Loften

Craig Walker

Heather Simms

Erin Friend

Sarah Dacey-Charles

Cindy Cheung

Nelly Saviñon

Katie Kopajtic

Jeanne Lauren Smith

Music by

David Torn

Cinematography by

Autumn Eakin

Genre: Drama

Country: United States

The Light of the Moon Official Trailer

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