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Jelena's Song

2010 28 min
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In this short lyrical film, haunting childhood memories, photographs and family stories form the heart of a woman’s search for transformation. A descent into the labyrinths of memory, the film documents Jelena’s recollections of her childhood in both Croatia and Canada, resulting in a fragmentary reconstruction of her past. With candour and sensitivity, Jelena reclaims her own identity, disarming us with her courage and will.

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This work deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Jelena's Song

Details

In this short lyrical film, haunting childhood memories, photographs and family stories form the heart of a woman’s search for transformation. A descent into the labyrinths of memory, the film documents Jelena’s recollections of her childhood in both Croatia and Canada, resulting in a fragmentary reconstruction of her past. With candour and sensitivity, Jelena reclaims her own identity, disarming us with her courage and will.

This work deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Visual Arts Children and Youth Social Issues All subjects
  • director
    Pablo Alvarez-Mesa
  • producer
    Ravida Din
  • executive producer
    Ravida Din

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Education

Ages 15 to 17
School subjects
Civics/Citizenship - Human Rights Diversity - Identity Health/Personal Development - Mental Health/Stress/Suicide Health/Personal Development - Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution
What does Jelena mean when she says she wants to 'own' her own image? At this point in her life Jelena seems remarkably free of bitterness and anger. What are some of her strategies for coping? How does she contextualize the traumatic incidents? What does she feel about the man who abused her? Have students discuss issues of forgiveness and forgetting in this film. How does Jelena see the importance of either?
Jelena's Song
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

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