Synopsis and movie trailer: Vancouver Queer Film Festival’s “Southwest of Salem”.
The Vancouver Queer Film Festival runs August 11 -21 st at numerous movie houses across the city. On Monday August 15 “Southwest of Salem” will be shown at International Village, and on Tuesday August 16 at VanCity Theatre.
“Southwest of Salem” proves a portrait of individual tragedy, and an indictment of a system willing to let prejudice cloud its judgment — and, also, to avoid admitting its own wrongdoing.
“We thought it was going to be a cakewalk.”
A nightmare unfolds as 4 Latina women are accused of heinous crimes against 2 young girls in Texas.
A modern day witch hunt and demonization of Lesbians takes place as the case unfolds in San Antonio, Texas. To this day, August 5, 2016, the case is still under review at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. No hearing date has been set.
Some forensic evidence was debunked in 2012 and 2013, yet the women in this case are not free and no one has been exonerated. This case is ongoing and director Deborah S. Esquenazi seeks viewers help to exonerate the women by issuing a call to action by contacting the DA and the use of social media.
An in-depth cultural study of the intersections of myth and justice in the criminal justice system, revealing how persistent homophobic and sexist biases (and an implied association with cults and covens) may have condemned the “San Antonio Four.” News clips, interviews, legal case writings, and family videos paint a disturbing but always compelling portrait of the women’s outrageous journey, which has not yet ended. From Tribeca to Hot Docs, Southwest of Salem has been heralded as an instant classic of queer cinema.
