Erick’s life changed forever when he got into a taxi. The driver and two accomplices sexually assaulted him. The then 17-year-old never went to the police, never saw a doctor and never told his family or friends. After feeling broken for 10 years, he goes on a journey to reclaim his life-changing world around him along the way.
On his 17th birthday, Erick decided to throw a party. Disappointed no one showed up, he took a trip to Zona Rosa, a cool neighborhood in Mexico City known for its nightlife and gay community. Around 2 am, he got inside a taxi to return home but things turned strange quickly when the driver informed him he had to pick up another passenger on the way. When the driver did pull over, Erick tried to exit the taxi because he felt uncomfortable but a man approached the door and began striking him in the face. As Erick lay down bleeding, the man got into the taxi and they drove off making yet another stop where another man got inside the car. After putting a bag over Erick’s head, they drove for a while before transporting him into the backseat of another car. They tied up his hands and feet and violated him one after another.
Like many victims of sexual assault, Erick felt shame, embarrassment, and even responsible. With no support and nowhere to turn for help, he never told his family or friends. He lived with humiliation from the abuse for 10 years that manifested into a deep depression and a rage of darkness his family couldn’t understand. He described his personal relationships as always complicated and unfulfilling until he meets a man with whom he opens up to for the first time, revealing the most intimate parts of his past. Erick finally gains the courage to come out of the shadows and tell his family what happened that night and also reveals another powerful detail about the attack that will shock you. Brave enough to speak about the assault at the screening of this documentary, Erick created a safe space for others to come forward about their abuse, get support and begin to heal.
As we remain in a very tense climate surrounding female victims coming forward regarding sexual assault and misconduct, I wonder how many men remain silent with fear of being shamed and ridiculed for not being strong enough to fight off their attackers; even if they were children when the abuse began. This film deeply moved me because it opens up the conversation about how dark secrets can affect one’s ability to live normal lives and have healthy relationships, particularly with themselves. This is such an amazing documentary, so honest, real and powerful. My hope is for more films to bring awareness to sexual abuse against men helping them break their silence. It is reported that 1 out of 10 rape victims in the U.S. are men and 96% of sexual offenses against men in the U.K. go unreported.
“One Taxi Ride” recently screened at the 2019 New York LGBTQ Film Festival
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