A new documentary about the ‘Bill Cosby affair’ in the US focuses on some of the women who have made allegations against the popular comedian – and what it takes to heal from lasting trauma.
The film, which premieres Sunday night on CBC, focuses on the story of Andrea Constand, reunited for the first time in person with four other women who claim they were sexually assaulted by Cosby. The actor has always maintained his innocence.
These five women came together for a “retreat” led by doctor Gabor Maté. They discussed their specific allegations against Cosby and the broader effects of trauma on the person.
“I think one of the most important things about healing from trauma is recognizing that you’re not alone,” says documentary filmmaker Karen Wookey from Toronto. By sharing Andrea Constand’s story, she wanted to send that message to other victims.
The documentary picks up the ground covered by Ms Constand in her 2021 memoir, The Momentfrom her childhood through her budding basketball career to her relationship with Cosby, who had befriended her when she was an athletic administrator at Temple University.
She recounts in detail the night in January 2004 when she said Cosby drugged and then sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia home.
The documentary goes on to trace his legal battles against Cosby, starting with his 2005 civil trial and then the 2017 criminal trial, where the jury could not agree on a verdict.
The 2018 retrial, which sent Cosby to jail for nearly three years, is also detailed in the film, along with the appeal that ultimately overturned that conviction.
Cosby’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, declined to comment on the documentary, but she said in an email that the film “seems to start with a false premise, which is that Mr. Cosby has been found guilty.”
“Knowing how to forgive yourself”
The documentary points out that one of the things that sets the proceedings in 2018 apart from those in 2017 is that in the most recent trial, several women testified to their sexual assault allegations.
Although the meeting of the five women was organized for the film, Ms. Constand said that a real healing took place that weekend. “We were really there to get the job done, it wasn’t about performing for the camera in any way. »
The women discussed their interactions with Cosby and how his alleged assault affected them.
“When you get hurt, you go into survival mode, and it’s all about survival then,” says one of the five women, Renita Chaney Hill, in the film.
Cast member of Picture Pagesan educational show hosted by Cosby in the 1970s and 1980s, Ms. Chaney Hill alleged that the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her for several years.
“As far as I can remember, I have always been afraid of therapies, she explains in the film. And this weekend was a transformation for me: it gave me permission to forgive myself.