In the film “After the Silence,” Matilda-Luna Perotti talks to her grandmother on the phone for the first time in many years. Back then, she broke off contact with her family out of fear of the truth. The abuse Matilda experienced at the hands of her own uncle was not addressed, but downplayed. After years of silence, shame, and fear, she overcomes her reluctance to continue repressing the abuse and decides to confront her trauma.
Her first port of call is her grandmother. In the phone call, which Matilda records, it becomes clear that her grandmother does not really want to understand her. She refuses to accept that her son is a perpetrator and even blames Matilda – she could have fought back, after all. Like many others, she does not understand that the situation had gone too far for too long for anyone to be able to fight back. During the conversation, it becomes clear that her own grandmother sees her as partly responsible.
However, this does not deter Matilda from sharing her story and turning it into a film. The film features videos from her childhood with her family. She says that these videos remind her that her family was once a safe place for her. But today, family is a place where she no longer feels truly welcome.
Matilda has dared to break her silence about the crime she suffered with this film, giving others the courage to do the same. She wants to help other women to be strong and not feel ashamed of what they have experienced. The film aims to empower others not to be silenced and to stand up for themselves. The film’s message is very important and is conveyed in an impressive way. The film should definitely be seen by a wide audience!
Mia B.