The Burden
"The Burden" was directed by Nico & Martin and created by advertising group McCann Erickson for a commercial in Italy to raise awareness of child sexual abuse. The version that is on YouTube and readily available online has a rather uninspiring soundtrack. The version I am posting here is on the Casa do Menor site and features a partial recording of the Current 93 song "Soft Black Stars" covered by Antony and the Johnsons. I will record my own cover of this song on piano and publish it over the next couple days as a follow-up to this post.
The end text says: "Bimbi abusati. Una parte di sé che muore per sempre." Translated, this says: "Abused children. A part of him who dies forever." In the English version of the video the closing text says: "Sexual abuse can be a heavy burden for a child." Obviously, those are two very different messages. Both are accurate.
You may also be interested in the lyrics for "Soft Black Stars":
Little children snuggle
Under soft black stars
And if you look into their eyes
Soft black stars
Deliver them from the book
And the letter and the word
And let them read the silence
Bathed in soft black stars
Let them trace the raindrops
Under soft black stars
Let them follow whispers
And scare away the night
Let them kiss the featherbreath
Of soft black stars
And let them ride their horses
Licked by the wind and the snow
And tip-toe into twilight
Where we all one day will go
Caressed with tenderness
And with no fear at all
Their faces shining river gold
Washed by soft black stars
And angels' wings shall soothe their cares
And all the birds shall sing at dawn
Blessed and wet with joy
You and I will meet one day
Under the night sky
Lit by soft black stars
This is the first video I have embedded on this site. I sometimes provide links, but I may do more of this in the future for videos that have significant meaning to me and that I wish to share with others.
Please visit Casa do Menor. A translation of the site explains that it was established in 1986 and consists of schools and homes for abused and street children. It was founded by a Father Renato Chiera; which gives me hope about what a good priest can do for the benefit of society.
Related post: My Commentary on "The Burden"
8 Comments
Thank you for posting this. I do realize this is incredibly heavy to view, however no more so than living it. This video reasonates with me not only from a child's viewpoint, but also how I still feel today!! At least as a child, parts were created to deal with what happened. Today as an adult, in order to heal it is not conducive to rely on parts to carry the burden. In my life today I do feel very alone carrying the burden of the past in ways that other people around me have no clue. It takes an enormous amount of energy and time to work, take care of a family and still find time left over to do the really hard, exausting job of trying to heal. I fight hard not to believe that a part of me is dead because of what happened. If I give in to this viewpoint, then there is no hope. Some days are better than others.
Thanks "the quiet one"! Yeah, I know it's a bit heavy. I debated on whether to put such a piece up on this site. I've come to realize that I've more or less focused the site since its inception on things related to the present difficulties (i.e., experiences of dissociation). But, I'm starting to look at all of this now from a child's perspective or a part's perspective. I agree with you about the "part of me is dead" line. I have to fight hard on this one myself. Sometimes that's a losing battle. But the battle, or should I say war, goes on.
I hope lots of people see this, hear this. I had to go away and come back. Thanks for finding it and posting it here.
This is possibly going to sound harsh, especially when I agree with all of the comments so far... But, the problem with advertisements and awareness campaigns such as this, is that they show the "burden" as being that of the child's. It doesn't show the full impact of the abuse... it doesn't show the potential loss of educational opportunities, relationships, trust, hampered socialisation, job opportunities, broken families etc. Yes, it shows graphically how the burden of abuse can impact on the child, but it doesn't tell the bigger story...
This ad affects us survivors, but will it change the behaviour of an average parent who thinks that this sort of thing will never happen to their child? I'm not so sure.
I know this may make it sound as if I don't like the piece, I do... I identified with it as an adult looking back on the burden that was created within me, and as a hurting child that is part of that burden. I think that the music is a beautiful and moving piece... My fear is that ads such as this, will only move the survivor. But maybe that is it's purpose...
I thank you for putting this up Paul, I do appreciate it and what you do here on your blog.
Take care,
CG
Castorgirl, Thanks for writing. I love it when people don't agree with everyone else and point things out which get me (and everyone who reads this blog) to think. I was going to respond with a comment, but it started to get way too long and I think it deserves a post all its own. So, I will follow up with a post this afternoon.
I am glad you posted this for several reasons.
1. When some art form in the now connects with inner parts, as this does, an immediate bridge occurs and it is validating. A clear and tender statement to insiders shows my persistance to connect. It is akin to reaching inside and saying "Yes this I know, I remember".
2. I view the "dead child" differently and do see a total recognition of my truths. I found that portrayal invaluable for many. Not allegorical but the truth as impossible as death and life can co-exist. So again, I say thanks for finding and sharing.
Hi Coach, Thanks for coming to the blog. I agree with you! You may appreciate what I, and others, said in the follow-up commentary.
Because of the relatedness of the posts, I'm closing comments here. Please feel free to post your comments on the follow-up post to this entitled: My Commentary on 'The Burden'.