The Connecticut nonprofit organization Rock the Walls was joined by Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Hollywood producer and CEO of Straight Up Films Marisa Polvino to announce a fundraising campaign for a documentary about the systemic failures of the family court system with a particular focus on Connecticut.

The proposed film, House of Mirrors, is pitched as a “searing expose of America’s family court system,” and already has award-winning documentary film director Ky Dickens signed on to direct. The team is hoping to generate a national “impact campaign” around the film.

Tooker said she has been in conversations with Rock the Walls founder Lisa Pinney-Keusch for nearly two years about the launch of nonprofit organization and the potential drive for a documentary film.

“While I have not personally been through and worked through any of these issues myself, right here in Westport there are lots of neighbors and friends who are, and who have,” Tooker said to the audience. “If there is anything a female leader should be leaning in on, it’s this.” 

Executive Producer Marisa Polvino says she hopes to use Connecticut as the focus for the film, anticipating that Kayden’s Law will be introduced to Connecticut during the 2025 legislation session so the film can follow its progression through the legislative system. 

Kayden’s Law is a federal law that states can adopt which places stricter controls over the use of court-appointed experts, reunification therapy and camps, and more training for court officials on domestic violence. Several states have enacted Kayden’s law, including California and Colorado.

Polvino said she “went down a rabbit hole” when looking into the family court system and “couldn’t believe what I was hearing and reading.”

“We allow the court system to take children and put them in the hands of the abuser for whatever laws they have in place,” Polvino said. “The key component is Kayden’s law and the legislative drive toward enacting that in Connecticut and nationally and highlighting personal stories here in Connecticut because we’ve had some really alarming, high-profile cases recently out of this state. It’s happening everywhere, but let’s start here and then branch out nationally.”

In Connecticut, women have joined together in groups calling for reform to the family court system, saying the courts are being used to perpetuate abuse through enormously expensive divorce cases that last years and custody of children being awarded to abusive ex-partners.

“I feel like I am part of this big swell and I liken it to a tsunami,” Pinney-Keusch said. “What’s been so frustrating for me in this, watching all of friends, women, people I know and don’t know, and hearing stories every day that shock me to the core.”

Pinney-Keusch highlighted the positive impact of social media which she says is allowing women and even children to join together to share their stories and push for change. She also highlighted the importance of supporting women going through contentious family court cases by using court-watchers – a group of volunteers who sit in on court proceedings to support an individual.

“We’re all starting to come together,” Pinney-Keusch said. “And the tsunami is coming.”

There is no indication as of yet that Kayden’s Law will be proposed in Connecticut. Three years ago, Connecticut passed Jennifer’s Law, named after Jennifer Dulos and Jennifer Magnano, two high-profile murder cases that took place during divorce and custody hearings. That law expanded the definition of domestic abuse to include coercive control – basically one partner controlling the other through threats and intimidation but without the physical abuse often necessary to qualify as legal abuse.

The campaign launch to fund the House of Mirrors documentary comes following the publication of a book by Dr. Christine Cocchiola, a coercive control expert, and Amy Polacko, a journalist and divorce coach, about the “weaponization” of family court. Both were on hand during the campaign launch to read from their book, Framed: Women in the Family Court Underworld. 

According to the fundraising campaign literature, the film and national impact campaign will expose “the staggering failures” of family court, raise awareness about coercive control as a form of abuse, and “ignite a nationwide discourse” on the family court system with the goal of increasing “judicial accountability.”

“We’re ready to go as soon as the money starts flowing it,” said co-producer Lynda De Martino. “This is an issue that, unless you go through it yourself, you have no idea how the courts are failing us on a day-to-day basis, especially our children.”

“I am honored and delighted that Westport is where this is happening because of your efforts,” Tooker said. “And I want you all to know that you have my full support.”

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