Screening followed by Skype Q&A with director Deborah S. Esquenazi.
“Esquenazi brilliantly tells a toxic tale of discrimination, familial dysfunction, religious and political paranoia, and a system full of biases. Upsetting and informative, Southwest of Salem captivates and educates in more ways than one can imagine. Rough, rugged, and raw...this is one documentary that cries out for our nation's leaders undivided attention." - Lee Romero, Corriente Latina
“A powerful act of advocacy." - Shelia O'Malley, rogerebert.com
“Proves a portrait of individual tragedy, and an indictment of a system willing to let prejudice cloud its judgement - and, also, to avoid admitting its own wrongdoing." - Nick Schager, Variety
Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four excavates the nightmarish persecution of Elizabeth Ramirez, Cassanda Rivera, Kristie Mayhugh, and Anna Vasquez - four Latina lesbians wrongfully convicted of gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The film begins its journey inside a Texas prison, after these women have spent nearly a decade behind bars.
Using the women's home video footage from 21 years ago combined with recent verite footage and interviews, the film explores their personal narratives and their search for exculpatory evidence to help their losing criminal trials. The film unravels the interplay of mythology, homophobia, and prosecutorial fervor that led to their indictment. Winner of a Peabody award, an Emmy nomination, the Critics Choice Award for "Best First Feature", and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary.