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Belly of the Beast

Play trailer Poster for Belly of the Beast 2020 1h 22m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Ex-convict Kelli Dillon files a lawsuit after doctors perform an unauthorized hysterectomy on her while she is in prison.

Critics Reviews

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Sarah Marloff Austin Chronicle 11/16/2020
3.5/5
Visually, the first half of the film provides eye-catching contrasts - expansive green fields and semi-trucks, bright days and dark early mornings, inside versus outside. Go to Full Review Katie Walsh Tribune News Service 11/15/2020
At once a thrilling legal drama and heartbreaking depiction of devastating human rights violations that you can't imagine happening in the 21st century. Go to Full Review Lovia Gyarkye New York Times 10/15/2020
"Belly of the Beast" does not reach for happy endings and is most absorbing in its thesis, which makes the stakes of this battle against human rights violations loud and clear. Go to Full Review Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia 03/18/2021
Cohn does a great job of highlighted a horrendous injustice, demonstrating how this exploitation takes place and following the brave women campaigning for change. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 02/10/2021
The 82-minute film sheds light on the brutality of mass incarceration, a symptom of the vast social inequality in America. Go to Full Review Chris Barsanti PopMatters 02/02/2021
Belly of the Beast is an effective introduction to a current issue many viewers would imagine was consigned to the past. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/02/2022 Belly of the Beast is a stunning achievement in the documentary space, and an incredibly powerful story about the resilience of the human spirit. This artistic and emotional project revealed human rights abuses towards women in California prisons, and it clearly and journalistically shows what can happen right under our noses in a very successful state. I grew up in California and I was stunned, and horrified, to hear these stories about forced sterilization. This film was thought-provoking, it was horrifying to discover what these women experienced, and it was deeply inspiring to see the survivors challenge the system. The good news is, these women fought the system and won. This documentary and the women featured in it exposed the issues, and the state of California was held accountable, and recently paid reparations. I can't recommend this film enough. It's a true story of women overcoming incredible obstacles, and speaking out to those in power. See more 12/14/2020 Sickening and important. See more Read all reviews
Belly of the Beast

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Erika Cohn

Director

Erika Cohn

Producer

Nicole Docta

Producer

Christen Hepuakoamana'a Marquez

Producer

Angela Lynn Tucker

Producer

Geralyn White Dreyfous

Executive Producer

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Belly of the Beast

Belly of the Beast (2020) Belly of the Beast (2020) Belly of the Beast (2020) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ex-convict Kelli Dillon files a lawsuit after doctors perform an unauthorized hysterectomy on her while she is in prison.
Director
Erika Cohn
Producer
Erika Cohn, Nicole Docta, Christen Hepuakoamana'a Marquez, Angela Lynn Tucker
Distributor
PBS
Production Co
Tribeca Film Institute, Fork Films, Idle Wild Films, Black Public Media, ITVS International
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 16, 2020, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 6, 2020
Runtime
1h 22m
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