What you will see, dear reader, involves how the Miranda Rights warning became required in the United States. It all started back in the 1960s in Phoenix, Arizona. The victim was 18 years old. She was walking home from her night job at a local theater when a man kidnapped and raped her. And, imagine this, she wanted him to pay for his crime! The film then shows how difficult it was for the young girl after she accused Ernesto Miranda.      

MIRANDA’S VICTIM, no holds barred.

Watching it through sure can be hard.

But powerful, in ways galore.

When done, you know a whole lot more. 

 Michelle Danner looks at real life.

Again she picks someone in strife.

Brave young woman who tells her woes.

And how she suffers as trial goes. 

But just one trial was not enough.

So suffering is daily stuff.

Abigail Breslin plays this part

and shows she knows acting is Art. 

Subject Miranda we see too.

with lawyers who have lots to do.   

   The U.S. Supreme Court appears

to make a judgment someone fears.

All come together on the screen

and history has now been seen.

In addition to Abigail Breslin’s star performance, the wonderful support cast deserves praise, especially the lawyers played by Andy Garcia, Ryan Philippe, Luke Wilson and Supreme Court judge Donald Sutherland (in almost a cameo). Also, Sebastian Quinn delivers the goods as Miranda, and Mireille Enos does the same as the victim’s worried mom,

Kudos for the writers too. Complicated but down-to-earth screenplay was written by J. Craig Stiles from his story with George Korber and Richard Lasser.  

Miranda’s Victim is not easy to watch. But like other Danner films (Hello Herman, Bad Impulse, and The Runner) this unflinching offering ends up being a movie that matters.

(Released by All in Films. Available on Prime Video. Not rated by MPAA.)

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney and to have an attorney present during any questioning. --- U.S. Miranda Rights