The film that made me cry : a study on feelings in Mitchell Block’s no lies

Mitchell Block’s short student film no lies (1973), in dialogue with feminist discourse and cinéma vérité style, depicts a conversation about sexual assault. Given the current sociopolitical climate and discussions on women’s bodily rights, I will provide a close reading of the film through a contemporary lens. This thesis includes analysis of the film's making, its historical context, and a theoretical framework to understand emotional reactions to the film almost 50 years after its release. This project highlights the importance of non-documentary modes of cinema to raise critical questions on visual depictions of trauma and examines and how films are constructed through viewers’ perceptions and personal experiences.