Scarlet Girls
Scarlet Girls brings together the testimonies of women whose stories are intertwined through the irrevocable trauma that follows a clandestine abortion procedure. Wanda (27) was given away by her parents at the age of five and suffered multiple types of abuse. Carla (21) talks of the excruciating pain she experienced during a curettage after a failed home abortion, where she was not anaesthetised. Amelia (23) was against abortion, until she had to live through it with a bitter root tea. Leti (76) remembers interrupting her pregnancy during her teenage years. Rosa (54) is the mother of Esperancita, a sixteen year old girl who passed away after doctors refused to terminate her pregnancy despite being diagnosed with leukaemia. As the testimonies from different women are heard, we are taken on a sensorial journey in which women of different ages and backgrounds perform daily rituals which seem to be normal, but feel heavy. How do these actions relate to what we are hearing? How do we, as a collective, talk about what cannot be talked about?
Paula Cury Melo (Dominican Republic)
Natalia Imaz
Samuel Didonato (Dominican Republic)
Natalia Imaz (Germany)
Paula Cury Melo (Dominican Republic)
Cristal Cine
parabellum film
Natalia Imaz (Germany)
- Change minds/behaviour. Destigmatize the conversation around abortion. About 20% of women who responded to our open call claimed they have never shared their abortion experience.
- Strengthen communities. Create communities of support and sorority bonds between women, in countries with laws similar to DR and abroad. There is no need for us to go through these experiences alone. We can support each other, even when the state does not protect us. If they don't, we will.
- Change structures. Have an impact on the discussion about abortion legislation in the DR. We are one of only five countries where this total ban on abortion remains. Having it legalised for at least three causes would be another victory for women around the world and in Latin America.
- Raise awareness about the emotional, social and financial consequences of illegal abortion and forced motherhood. Empathy has the power to make us step into other's shoes and understand their living situations. Empathy is a driving force that can contribute to slow yet steady change.
- Create safe spaces to discuss abortion experiences.
- Connect with other documentary projects on abortion in different countries to form a network or connection.
- Connections to international abortion networks.
- To offer the documentary to feminist organisations that carry out advocacy and campaigns.
- Presenting the documentary to legislators and decision makers in the DR.
- Thematic evening: activations with other NGOs and allies to discuss abortion in Europe/Latin America/Internationally.
- Activation to collect anonymous testimonies of women that can be turned into a sound or visual installation.
- Invite women who have been openly public about their abortion to collaborate as spokespeople for the film/participate in Q&As.
Samuel Didonato (Dominican Republic)
Natalia Imaz (Germany)
Organisations
CIPAF – Investigation Centre for
Feminist Action
RD3Causales
Fos Feminista
Film funds and agencies
FONPROCINE
Ford Foundation
Organisations
CIPAF – Investigation Centre for
Feminist Action
RD3Causales
Fos Feminista
Film funds and agencies
FONPROCINE
Ford Foundation