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clip 1Clip description
Maria is a refugee from El Salvador now living in Melbourne. Maria recounts her experiences of trauma and torture during the civil war and their impact on her life and family.
Curator’s notes
In this scene, Maria’s recollection of the torture she experienced highlights both the physical and psychological impacts of trauma. Her painful story is quietly told and Maria shies away from looking directly into the camera, although bravely continues her story to the end. Zubrycki intercuts these moments with shots of Maria travelling alone on a tram. These solitary travelling shots create a visual space for the viewer to reflect on the impacts of Maria’s trauma.
At the end of the scene, Maria reflects that she has found it difficult to cry or speak about the experience and even her husband didn’t understand. These closing observations are accompanied by shots of her children sitting happily at home watching television. This pulls the viewer back into the present and makes us aware that Maria’s trauma is something she continues to live with. The clip also gives an insight into the incredible resilience Maria exhibits (a characteristic common to many people living with trauma). Later in the film, this resilience is recognised by Maria herself who admits to having more courage now than she did when she was a young woman in El Salvador.
