Film Invasion LA 2020 – O Mundo Aqui Dentro (The World Inside)
Camila is in a controlling relationship and cut off from her family. She spends her days alone inside the apartment reading a book that serves as her window to the outside world, but keeping this secret can be dangerous.
Interview with Writer/Director/Co-Producer Luisa Novo and Co-Producer Denise Szabo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
LUISA: When I was in Brazil in 2018, there were many stories in the media about domestic violence. For women, the fear of violence in all spheres of life is real. Domestic and gender violence is not a new problem, but we've been more open about it in public and the #metoo movement helped support a lot of women to come forward. Still, reading some of those stories really affected me. As they should. One story is one too many. I felt that we can do more to show how this violence can occur, make the audience uncomfortable and inspired to change things. Pull off the curtain and show with images, not just words, what it is like. That was the idea behind The World Inside.
DENISE: We met in college and when Luisa was back in Brazil the idea of making a film together after ten years came up after an informal chat. Luisa showed us this script about domestic violence. We immediately loved the possibility of talking about a topic so urgent and making something together again.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
LUISA: The film depicts the inner works of an abusive relationship that are often hidden from the outside world. Many friends and families of victims don't know they are going through it because there's shame and stigma around being in that situation, and sometimes the women are manipulated to such a degree that they don't recognize they are being abused or they think they deserve it. The more people are aware of how it happens, the more tools we have to fight it.
DENISE: A lot of people suffer from domestic violence and don't realize how a "simple verbal aggression" can escalate. And, at least in Brazil, everyone knows at least one person that is going through, or has gone through, an abusive situation. When a person watches a story like the one we show on screen, she can identify with the situation, or she can identify the story of someone close to her and help her get out of the situation.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
LUISA: Women's rights are human rights. Everyone should have the power to decide for themselves what is best for their lives. Everyone should not be afraid to be harmed for voicing opinions and disagreeing.
DENISE: As Luisa said, women's rights are human rights. While there isn't gender equality, films that discuss these questions are necessary.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
LUISA: I drew the inspiration for the script from a couple of stories in the media in 2018. I did research into how the pattern of abuse occurs, and the psychological and physical harm it does to the victims. But the idea of her secret being a book she is not supposed to have, came from an image of a woman hiding inside a closet while she reads. Reading is such a banal thing that everyone does, but knowledge is also power, so it can be threatening to someone trying to hold control over another person.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
LUISA: Some people don't like the violence we portray in the film. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, because you are not supposed to like it. It's supposed to affect you, to make you tense and uncomfortable. Some people feel exactly that. Some men come out hating the abuser, which is great. It's great that they recognize that that behavior exists in their own gender.
DENISE: The objective of films is to cause discomfort. Even the people that didn't like the film because of the explicit violence recognize that they were uncomfortable. The main character's apathy is also something that brought up questions. "Why doesn't she fight back?", "Does she really love this guy? Why?". I believe these comments reflect the film's intention: to cause discomfort and indignation. Even men who watch the film hate the aggressor.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
DENISE: I don't think so. We heard from people that were bothered with the explicit violence; they thought the film could have treated the abuse in a more subjective way. Personally, I think both ways are positive. The fact that there is a discussion on the "right way" of talking about domestic violence is in itself positive.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
DENISE: We want the film to be seen by as many people as possible. We want to convey a message. Violence inside the home affect women of all cultures and socio-economic classes. The more the theme is exposed, the more there will be discussions about it and the bigger the chances that, even if it's in the long term, changes will happen.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
LUISA/DENISE: We'd like to connect to non-profits that work on helping women in this situation and see if the film can do anything to help their goals.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
LUISA: I hope the audience comes out from the viewing with a new understanding of the toxic dynamics at play in this type of relationship. With a bad feeling in their stomach, with the feeling that this is not ok. And if they are going through something like it, I hope they can see themselves from a bird's eye view and notice the patterns and how they do not deserve to be treated that way. Abusive men are not monsters or sick, they are people living in society. It's more normal than people think, but we can't normalize it, we have to fight against it. We need to change our culture and the way we view and treat women.
DENISE: If the film causes at least one person to realize that she is a victim of abuse and help her get out of the situation, or if at least one person close to a victim sums up the courage to tell authorities about the aggressor, that's a big victory.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
LUISA: Why does our society still treat women the way it does? What can we do to change the patriarchy and its inherent problems? To change our culture?
DENISE: It's 2020. Why are women still abused by their partners? Why are women still seen as their husbands' properties?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
LUISA: I'm working on an anthology feature with other female filmmakers and on a workplace comedy web series.
DENISE: I've been working on documentaries that tell the stories of regions from the point of view of their elderly, mostly women. It's a way of rescuing the history of these places through a female point of view.
Interview: May 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
O Mundo Aqui Dentro (The World Inside)
Camila is in a controlling relationship and cut off from her family. She spends her days alone inside the apartment reading a book that serves as her window to the outside world, but keeping this secret can be dangerous.
Length: 16:12
Director: Luisa Novo
Producer: Denise Szabo, Vanessa Sandre and Luisa Novo
Writer: Luisa Novo
About the writer, director and producer:
Born in Cascavel, Brasil, LUISA NOVO graduated in Cinema from the Federal University of Santa Catarina. In 2011 she relocated to Los Angeles to continue her education at the New York Film Academy and UCLA, earning certificates in Producing and Business and Management of Entertainment and an MFA in Filmmaking. She has directed a number of short films both in Brazil and the US. She is passionate about women's issues and committed to telling stories that can start a conversation and make people think.
DENISE SZABO graduated in Cinema and specialized in Audiovisual Production at Senac in Brazil. She has directed and produced documentaries for television and online media. She runs Ibirá Films where she produces artistic and commercial projects. She is also the Coordinator at CAV - São Bernardo do Campo Audiovisual Center - and teaches cultural workshops in both public and private institutions.
VANESSA SANDRE has a bachelor's degree in Cinema and a master's degree in Feminist Criticism and Gender Studies from Federal University of Santa Catarina. She works as a director, writer, producer and actress. She directed the short film Cloud and is on pre-production on her next film.
Key cast: Vanessa Sandre, Lucas Lacerda Albuquerque, Clei Grött
Facebook: Luisa Novo
Twitter: @luisamnovo
Instagram: @luisamnovo
Hashtags used: #domesticviolence #dometicviolenceawareness #sexism #abusiverelationship #womensrights #listentowomen #femicide
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Film Invasion LA/Online - Date in June TBD