The Story
This feature length drama tells the story of a successful Austrian judge, Julia Gabler. Committed to her family and her career, she moves to Immigration Court as a way to help her country. She is blind to her xenophobia.
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Her belief system is shattered by a series of confrontations in her courtroom, with her best friend Emily Belsano, within her family and the death of the woman who raised her. The story is about one woman's journey to rediscover and reimagine the meanings of justice and law.
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Julia ultimately leaves the court and her marriage and finds her heart and soul, bruised but intact.
Setting + Context
Time + Place
Opens in 2013 in Vienna Austria, two years into the Syrian war when the refugee issue has mushroomed in the EU and surrounding countries. The EU uses its stringent laws to protect itself from the deluge.
Key Characters
JULIA GABLER
Committed to family and career, but blind to her own xenophobia until challenged.
KONRAD GABLER
Julia's husband, CEO of an IT Security company. An alpha male who loves his family and his country.
EMILY BELSANO
Julia's best friend and lead war correspondent for Der Standard. Takes Julia into the world of refugees and those who help them.
ROSHANAK FARHI
A wise Syrian woman, mother of Faizah. Opens the immigrant world to Julia.
FAIZA FARHI
Passionate, gifted linguist and powerful activist. Julia's adversary who becomes her catalyst for change.
Core Themes
Illegal Justice explores complex themes relevant to our current social and political climate:
1. Rights of Privilege
2. Treatment of Those Different From Ourselves
3. Personal Choice & Responsibility
4. Reimagining Justice & Law
The Message
Change is intrinsic to life. Every day we are confronted by the complexities of our laws and social institutions through media and our personal experience.
What happens when we take personal responsibility for our lives while working together within our communities? Julia's internal realization contains the power to reshape the world beyond herself. Change that moves beyond the self becomes compelling.
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The system wasn't built to protect them. She was.