Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Sundance Film 'Josephine' Explores Childhood Trauma from Rape
Josephine is a movie about a young girl named Josephine who sees something very bad happen in a park.
She watches a man hurt a woman.
Her dad tries to help, but Josephine is really scared and confused.
She starts acting differently, asking questions, and having nightmares.
Her parents try to help her, but it's hard.
The movie shows how this bad thing changes Josephine's life and how hard it is for her to talk about what she saw.
It also shows how the legal system tries to deal with the bad man.
The movie is based on something that really happened to the director when she was a kid.
Josephine is a film directed by Beth de Araujo, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, based on her childhood trauma of witnessing a rape.
The story follows an 8-year-old girl, Josephine, who witnesses a rape in a park and the subsequent trauma she experiences.
Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan play Josephine's parents, trying to help her cope with what she saw.
The film explores the challenges of the legal system in prosecuting rapists, especially when a child is the key witness.
Josephine is a tough watch, graphically presenting the rape and the emotional turmoil of the young protagonist.
- Who
- Beth de Araujo (director), Mason Reeves (Josephine), Channing Tatum (Damien), Gemma Chan (Claire)
- What
- A film about an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a rape and the subsequent trauma she experiences
- When
- Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday
- Where
- Sundance Film Festival, Golden Gate Park (setting of the film)
- Why
- To bring awareness to the effects of rape on innocent bystanders, especially children, and the challenges of the legal system in such cases
- Director
- Beth de Araujo
- Cast
- Mason Reeves, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Philip Ettinger
- Festival
- Sundance (U.S. Dramatic Competition)
- Sales Agents
- CAA, WME
- Running Time
- 1 hr 59 mins
- Premiere Date
- Friday (Sundance Film Festival)