Amber Heard has made an unexpected appearance in a timely new documentary premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, depicting men accused of using defamation lawsuits to silence women who speak out about their abuse.
“Silent,” which is playing in the annual festival’s World Cinema section, received a bow Saturday afternoon from director Selina Miles and international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson. The film follows a number of women, including journalists, whose pursuit of justice is hampered by nine-figure defamation lawsuits.
Robinson helped Heard participate in a lawsuit brought by Heard’s ex-husband Johnny Depp against British newspaper The Sun in 2018. The newspaper published an article criticizing Mr. Depp’s casting in Warner Bros.’ “Fantastic Beasts” film series, citing allegations of domestic violence by Mr. Heard. Depp sued the paper for defamation, and Heard played a pivotal role in its defense.
Heard has agreed to do an interview for Silenced, his first film since 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The actress clarified her motivation for joining the production.
“This isn’t about me. I lost the ability to speak. I’m not here to tell my story. I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem,” Heard said candidly as he sat down for a confessional conversation with Miles.
Ms Heard includes Brittany Higgins, a political staffer who raised rape allegations against her boss in the Australian Parliament. Catalina Luis Navarro, editor of the Latin American magazine Volcanica, was sued by the director Ciro Guerra after publishing a series of allegations of misconduct against him. and human rights lawyer Sibongile Ndashe.
Speaking at Audible’s Variety Studio at Sundance, Robinson warned that defamation lawsuits have a “chilling effect” on women’s ability to come forward, let alone their day in court.
“In a post-#MeToo world, we’ve seen women break their cultural silence and speak out publicly about gender-based violence, and what we’ve seen is that the alleged perpetrator has filed a defamation lawsuit saying, ‘This isn’t true, this is defamation, and we’re going to sue for a lot of money,'” Robison said.
The lawyer tells many of his clients, “He can sue you, and then you have to prove it in court. But it’s very expensive to do so, and most women go bankrupt.” The question I ask in this film is, “What’s the point of free speech if you can’t afford to defend it?”
Mr Heard said her involvement in Depp v. Son was a Catch-22.
“The outcome of that trial depended on my participation, and I depended on the outcome of that trial. When I first met (Mr. Robinson), I immediately felt that she understood the big picture. What happened to me was an amplification of what many women are going through,” Ms Heard said.
During The Sun’s trial, the film depicts Heard as an object of public scorn. Some of Depp’s fans dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean and hurled abuse and threw trash at Heard as he entered and exited the courtroom daily.
“I remember at the end of the trial it occurred to me that I could say something to the press.[Robinson]asked me if I was sure about that.[I thought]’If they throw something at me, this will make this point more clear.’ I didn’t know that using my voice as a woman could make it so much worse,” she continued.
Hurd’s move to a career in theater ended on a hopeful note.
“Seeing others take up the fight gives me strength. Women are brave enough to address power imbalances. Seeing the look on my daughter’s face as she grows up and slowly steps into this world… I believe it will be better.”
“Silenced” is currently recruiting for distribution.
