THE HIDDEN TRUTH. or THE
SUFFERING OF A LITTLE GIRL
Yesterday I switched the TV set and flip
through different unsubstantial channels on the official digital net. Suddenly,
I came across a movie that was just at the starts. It was “La mala verdad”. I
knew nothing about it, so I thought, “why not try it?”
The movie
grasped me, caught me, and took me away, even though it had a rather slow pace.
The topic was challenging. It was the kind of topic of the type “we do not talk
about this”.
“La mala
verdad” is the story of a house dwelled by a little girl (“Barbara”), her
mother and her grandfather. The latter is an obscure character played by the
great Alberto de Mendoza. (In fact this movie was the last one Alberto de
Mendoza worked on, and he even died without attending the premiere).
Barbara´s
family is totally dysfunctional. Not everything is said but implied in this movie. There
are no concrete words about what happens between grandpa and the girl… but we
can infer that Barbara is suffering a lot from certain facts, such as her
outbursts at school, her occasional incontinence, etc.
The terrible
topic of child abuse is broached here. But apart from that unforgivable
situation, another fact is exposed: the role of adults surrounding the
suffering child. The school director and even the teacher decide to negate the
situation. They can see the girl suffering in a corner, but they do not
want to do anything because –they say- “We do not have enough evidence”.
Yet, there is the girl and her pain in clear demonstration,
every day, at school.
One of the
characters –the
psychologist of the school, a rara avis in two aspects: for behaving in a
correct way; and just for… existing in a public school. We know that, e.g., in San Luis, there are no more
than three psychologists for all the public schools, and they work in Terrazas
del Portezuelo! - finally quits
her job and decides to set up a claim at a Police Station. The scene at
that moment is appalling: the male agent who takes the deposition calmly boasts
that it is a waste of time, if “the family does not support the
accusation”.
All in all: the
movie surprised me. I did not expect that kind of entertaining moment, on a
Saturday night. My younger kid kept telling me: “Mamma, switch it off!” “Watch
something more cheerful”. But I had decided to watch it. And I did, and I do
not regret having seen it.
It was
–again- a lesson as regards child abuse, silence, violence, braveness and
cowardice. I strongly recommend this movie (“La mala verdad- 2011”) and my mates at the
IFDC should watch it and figure out the message it carries, which is particularly
relevant for a trainee teacher.
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
ResponderEliminarAdela...I once watched a similar movie...
ResponderEliminarA girl was being constantly abused by her grandfather but no one believed her. The man was an important and well-known politician and, of course, all the family wanted to preserve his image.
It drove me mad.... how can you allow someone to do that to your daugther or son??? It is so difficult to understand and impossible to forgive.
I must say that it is really sad for me watching this kinds of movies, but I do. It is a difficult situation not only for the child but for the parents and the family itself. Important things are not said, and are lurking inside (sounds familiar, right? As our poor Estha in the God of Small Things) without the possibility of seeing the light. Once the abused is able to expressed his or her pain, they can start healing their heart.
ResponderEliminar