The battle between silence and voice is at the heart of “Raging,” a full-length film directed by Ryan Machado.
Machado sheds light on male sexual assault cases through Eli’s story (Elijah Canlas), a 19-year-old forced to confront the trauma of being sexually abused by a peer.
Withdrawing into isolation and depression, Eli stumbles upon a mysterious plane crash that pushes him to break free from his silence, and finally wrestles with the trauma that has been haunting him.
The story unfolds with Eli’s view of a tainted world after his abuse, feeling like an outsider. While everyone goes on with their lives, he can only retreat to his shell, no longer the same person he was before the incident happened.
Canlas’ performance allows the audience to see through the minds of those who had endured such a traumatic event.
Machado emphasizes that sexual abuse can happen to anyone, even men. “Raging” is a voice for the survivors of sexual abuse, effectively portraying the silent battles they continue to fight.
In “Raging,” Mechado emphasizes the silence that male sexual abuse victims experience as Eli gets dismissed by authorities when he decides to report the incident.
The film is an eye-opening piece that sheds light on a taboo issue.
Overall, “Raging” makes significant strides in combating the silence over male sexual abuse.
These types of films are essential not just to spark conversation but also to demand justice and recognition for the victims. Kirsten Therese C. Barrameda
