#SXSW: “ROLEPLAY” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Faced with rampant sexual violence on their college campus, a group of Tulane University students spent a year creating an immersive play from their real-life experiences. Building characters and scenes based on the sexual politics of their campus, the student actors confront hard truths.

Director Katie Mathews crafts an urgent Documentary about sexual assaults on campuses and the cathartic role art plays in both confronting trauma and healing from it. It’s her lyrical way of weaving these two worlds that makes Roleplay a standout among other films documenting assaults on campus.

Mathews follows her young subjects as they navigate campus life and in the safe confessional space in the rehearsal room where they become more vulnerable. Watching these young minds confront their traumas through art by performing characters that mimic what happened to them, shows the resilience of young adults and how finding an outlet can heal. It’s both heartbreaking and uplifting.

Roleplay screens at SXSW ’24:

Mar 9 at 3:15PM at Alamo Lamar 4

Mar 13 at 2:45PM at Violet Crown Cinema 1

Mar 13 at 3:15PM at Violet Crown Cinema 3

Mar 16 at 3PM at Alamo Lamar 8