NEW ULM — The New Ulm Film Society’s courtroom drama series takes a hard look at an uncomfortable case with a screening of “The Accused.”

The screening starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the New Ulm Public Library.

“The Accused” was released in 1988 and is often cited as one of the most difficult films to watch. The movie details a woman’s struggle to find justice after she was gang-raped at a bar in front of several witnesses who encouraged the assault.

The film begins after Sarah Tobias (played by Jodie Foster) is brutally assaulted and is moved through the emergency care and legal system. Though there is evidence proving Tobias’s claims and several people witnessed the assault, few people in the legal system are willing to take her claims seriously because of her background. Foster plays Tobias as a crude, articulate character. It makes it easier for others to dismiss her and her experiences.

Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) is assigned to Tobias’ case, but she believes Tobias is an unreliable witness because of past behavior. Murphy decides to plead down the case, giving the assailants a lesser charge of reckless endangerment.

Tobias is outraged by the lack of justice. Not only are her assailants receiving minimal change, but many of the people who cheered on the assault faced no consequences and some continued to harass her.

Murphy comes to regret her decision to plead the case. She makes the decision to prosecute the people in the bar who cheered and encouraged the assault. This gives Tobias a chance to tell her story on the witness stand.

“The Accused” was one of the first films to directly address the rape. Previous films alluded to sexual assault but it was not something audiences saw on screen. “The Accused” made the controversial decision to not gloss over it. Though the film starts after the assault, Tobias is eventually able to tell her story, and the assault is shown as a flashback.

The flashback of the assault is often cited as one of the most difficult scenes to watch in film. The scene was designed to be ugly and unpleasant. It was reported at least one of the actors became physically ill after filming that assault scene.

Though the film is hard to watch, “The Accused” received high critical praise. Foster would ultimately receive her first Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Sarah Tobias. The film also brought greater public attention to the legal challenges associated with prosecuting rape cases.

Specifically, the film details how often the victim is not believed. In this case, it is easier to blame the victim than hold the assailants accountable. For many audiences, “The Accused” pointed a light at a very ugly blindspot in the criminal justice system.

The New Ulm Film Society’s screening of “The Accused” is free to the public. Before and after the film, there will be a discussion about the film’s place in film history and its importance as a legal drama.