The mockingbird takes flight

December 15, 2008 - 1:55 PM by

Cecilia Peck

It was a strange case, even by Israeli standards. The country was full of pride at one of their own – Linor Abergil – winning the Miss Universe contest in 1998. But less than a year later, Abergil was in court, testifying that soon before the contest, she had been raped by one Shlomo Nur in Italy.

Nur was eventually convicted of raping the beauty queen and sentenced to 16 years in prison, and Abergil has gone on to a successful modeling and acting career as well as a constant icon in the local gossip columns (she was briefly married to former Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball star Sarunas Jasikevicius, and has since been linked with mewly single singer Rami Kleinstein.
However, now Abergil, 28, is joining forces with another woman – Dutch actress-director Cecelia Peck, who happens to be the daughter of famed actor Gregory Peck. The two announced last week in Tel Aviv that they’re making a documentary on rape and women’s fear of reporting the crime or testifying against their assailants.

Linor Abergil - to tell her story According to Ha’aretz, Abergil told reporters that after her case was publicized, women from around the world e-mailed her with their own stories, and she understood it would be her life’s task to encourage other rape victims to break their silence.

Peck is no stranger to controversy. Her 2006 documentary on the Dixie Chicks – Shut Up and Sing - about their criticism of President George W. Bush was nominated for a Golden Globe award.

The duo announced that filming of the documentary, being produced by Motti Reif, would begin next summer in Israel and will continue for a year in various countries.

Tags: , , , • Category: Crime, General, Movies 

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