Trauma, Memory and Confinement: (Re)presentations of Space in Dictatorial Cinema

The Interview Space

In this documentary, the victims of the different schools and institutions are interviewed in the same space. The foreground of the space is the person being interviewed, sitting down, with a close of the upper half of their body. The background is filled with furniture that is covered with sheets and there is a crucifix hanging on a wall. Armengou, during her visit, explained that the interview space was constructed because of the people she interviewed didn’t want to be interviewed in their homes since it brings their traumas into their personal lives. Rather than conduct interviews in their homes, Armengou decided that a studio space would be a safe, neutral space.

However, the viewer of the documentary is unaware of the fact that the interview space is in a studio and that it was constructed. What the viewer sees is what looks like an abandoned building, possibly one of the schools the victims talk about. Many of them suffered in Catholic institutions, which the cross would be an indicator of. The interview space sensationalizes what the people suffered in that it builds a stage for their trauma. The cross in the background is not a neutral prop and is in fact antagonizing, especially as many of the people suffered as children at the hands of priests and nuns. While it is unclear if the interviewee saw the cross, this is irrelevant; it’s very existence undermines the supposed safe space of the interview. This interview space objectifies the interviewee, placing them within a scene like if they themselves were a prop to be used to highlight the trauma.

 

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