What People Misunderstand About Dakota Fanning's Controversial Film Role

After reading this article and reviewing the intense debate surrounding the film, I am more than ever convinced that the answer is a big, resounding YES. When examining how performance art intersects with child protection regulations in independent movies, serious questions arise about where the line should be drawn.

"It’s not a rape movie," Fanning said Tuesday during a promotional event for the film. "That’s not even the point of the film."

The disturbing scene lasts a few minutes but is not graphic. There is no nudity, the scene is very darkly lit, and only Fanning’s face and hand are shown on camera.

Director Deborah Kampmeier said it took her a decade to get the film made, largely because of the controversial scene, but cutting it was a compromise she was unwilling to make.

"This issue is so silenced in our society. There are a lot of women who are alone with this story," she said, stressing why authentic storytelling matters in lifestyle and culture coverage.

"When you’re shooting a film, it’s the images you line up next to each other that create a story," Kampmeier explained. "If you have a hand hitting the ground, Dakota screaming ’stop’ and you see a zipper unzip - that creates a rape."

Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission and publisher of Movieguide, claims "Hounddog" breaks federal child-pornography law. He said the law covers material that "appears" to show minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

"Even if they’re not actually performing the explicit act, we are dealing with a legal issue here," he said.

Baehr said seeing Dakota Fanning as a child in such a role meant she was being exploited in the film, arguing that it should be considered a national outrage.

"Children at 12 do not have the ability to make the types of decisions that we’re talking about here," he said. "If we’re offended by some comedian’s racial slur, why aren’t we offended by somebody taking advantage of a 12-year-old child?"

Two other children perform in the film alongside the young lead: Cody Hanford plays Buddy, and Isabelle Fuhrman plays a girl nicknamed "Grasshopper."

Kampmeier said she talked with the children and their parents but didn’t go into great detail with the young actors about the graphic content.

"I didn’t have to articulate to Cody and Isabelle the psychological elements that were going on in this film," she said. "I used images to tell the story. I didn’t manipulate these children or explain to these children what was going on."

Key details regarding how child actors were managed on set include:

Reflecting on her experience as a Dakota Fanning child performer, Fanning said she and Kampmeier talked for months before the film was shot and even spent a day painting pottery together while discussing the story.

"It’s not really happening," Fanning said regarding the difficult scene. "It’s a movie, and it’s called acting. I’m not going through anything. Cody and Isabelle aren’t going through anything, their characters are."

"And for me, when it’s done it’s done," she said. "I don’t even think about it anymore." This perspective is frequently discussed in celebrity profiles when evaluating young actors taking on intense dramatic roles.

Former Sundance Film Festival director Geoffrey Gilmore defended the film, asserting that independent filmmakers should have the freedom to pursue sensitive subject matter.

"I feel the mission and very nature of what Sundance is about is to provide a platform for that," he said.