Is She Still There?: Child Sex Trafficking, Traumatic Memory and Resilience in Mischa Marcus’ Film I Am Still Here
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2025.730Keywords:
child sex trafficking, sexual violence, traumatic memory, resilience, PTSD, cinematic representationAbstract
This paper aims at contextualizing child sex trafficking, trauma, and resilience from the atrocities of sexual violence
based on the reading of Mischa Marcus’ film I Am Still Here. The analysis makes its way from violence, trauma, and
PTSD to resilience through the cinematic representation of sexual abuse. The film portrays the experiences of a child
who is trafficked and the subsequent impact on her psychological state, using non-linear narrative techniques and
sensory triggers to reflect the fragmented nature of traumatic memory. This study also includes a conversation with
the director, which offers new insights into her directorial approach to depicting trauma and recovery, emphasizing
realism without exploitation. Through consulting the aspects of the camera and theories on traumatic memory, PTSD,
and resilience, the paper analyzes the fragmented nature of traumatic experiences and how they subvert common
media tropes. Further, it also discusses the importance of supportive relationships in recovery, highlighting how the
film depicts the crucial role of emotional support in healing from the trauma of sexual violence. Thus, this study is
focused on a survivor of child sex trafficking, delving into a deeper understanding of child and adult resilient
behaviors in dealing with trauma.
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