“Why didn’t she just leave?” From its harrowing opening moments, this film unpacks our cultural misperceptions by placing us on the frontlines of domestic abuse advocacy, the work to which Kit Gruelle has dedicated her life. A survivor herself, she’s served as an advocate for battered women for twenty-five years, helping victims find a way out of violent situations, through a complicated justice system, and back to a place of confidence. This powerful document bears witness to the devastating experiences of many women (including Kit’s own), but it’s the circumstances of Deanna, who was kidnapped and brutally attacked by her ex-husband, that crystalize the profound cycle of abuse and dependence and remind us just how difficult it can be to escape. We watch as Kit and her fellow advocates help Deanna and others rebuild their lives. These brave accounts of violent circumstances endured reveal how deeply entangled assault, dependence, fear, and love can become.  ST