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Fictional Film Depicts Life of Child Killed by Mother
Benjamin Bayer's film about Yagmur, a three-year-old killed by her mother, uses a fictional approach to depict her life and potential future, contrasting it with her tragic reality; the film uses multiple actresses to portray Yagmur at various ages, adhering to child labor laws.
- What prompted the decision to create a fictional film about Yagmur's life and death, rather than a documentary?
- Benjamin Bayer, director of the film about Yagmur, a three-year-old girl killed by her mother, chose a fictional approach to respect the privacy of those involved and to effectively convey Yagmur's life and death. The film uses multiple actresses to portray Yagmur at different ages, complying with child labor laws and providing breaks for the young actors.
- How did the filmmakers balance the need to depict the harsh reality of Yagmur's life with the ethical considerations of portraying child abuse?
- Bayer's film contrasts Yagmur's actual life with a fictional representation of her potential life had she survived, using publicly available information like court documents. This juxtaposition serves as a commentary on the injustice of her death and the child's right to an unblemished life. The film does not address the authorities' role.
- What are the potential broader implications of this film's approach to representing a tragic case of child abuse, particularly concerning public awareness and potential policy changes?
- The film's fictional approach allows exploration of the emotional impact of Yagmur's suffering, while respecting privacy concerns. Using multiple actresses, the film depicts Yagmur's life from infancy to adulthood, highlighting her resilience and potential. The director's choice to focus on Yagmur's experiences, rather than investigating the authorities' actions, provides a unique and empathetic perspective.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing centers on the filmmaker's artistic process and emotional response to the subject, rather than providing a balanced account of the events. Questions from the interviewer often focus on the film's creation and techniques, potentially overshadowing the tragic core of Yagmur's story. The headline (if any) would significantly influence the framing.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and descriptive, particularly in the quotes. However, the interviewer's choice to repeatedly focus on the 'unyielding will to live' and the 'painful descriptions' might subtly frame Yagmur's story as exceptionally resilient, without acknowledging the pervasive trauma and systemic failures potentially involved.
Bias by Omission
The interview focuses heavily on the filmmaker's choices and artistic decisions, omitting potential perspectives from Yagmur's family or those involved in the legal case. The lack of discussion regarding the authorities' actions and potential failures raises questions about a complete picture of the events. While acknowledging practical constraints, the omission of these perspectives may limit the audience's understanding of the broader context surrounding Yagmur's death.
False Dichotomy
The film's portrayal presents a stark contrast between Yagmur's actual life and a fictionalized ideal, but doesn't explore alternative scenarios or complexities within the tragedy. This could inadvertently simplify the traumatic experience and limit the audience's capacity to grapple with the multifaceted nature of child abuse and neglect.
Sustainable Development Goals
The film depicts the tragic death of a child due to violence, highlighting the devastating impact of poverty and violence on vulnerable children. Poverty can be a significant contributing factor to child abuse and neglect, and the lack of proper support systems leaves children at increased risk.