“After six years directing short documentaries on gender identity and equality around the world for The Guardian, my motivation for directing this documentary was to see that all the injustices I have portrayed abroad were happening in my own country, Spain. I want to give a voice to the communities that suffer these injustices to leave an impact on them and on Spanish society as a whole.
My initial challenge was to convince Carmen, the main character, to gain access and make her understand the impact that a documentary can have. After talking extensively with her, I understood the distrust she had in the media, mainly caused by the image they have always shown of the Roma people—always falling into the stereotype. It wasn’t until she saw my films about women in the Philippines fighting for family planning, or in El Salvador fighting against the abortion laws, that she felt identified and decided to trust me.
As a female director, I have always been inclined towards stories where empowered women, with little support or resources, fight for a goal. My skills have always been in winning the trust of such women, creating intimate and emotional moments that tell human stories of underrepresented communities. I believe Carlota (producer of 15L) and I form a great team of women, which will be perfect to tell the story. We will also be working with a minimal crew during the shooting, which will help us achieve that contemplative and close tone I am looking for.
With subtle camera movements, we’ll follow the action as realistically as possible, avoiding constant cuts in the editing and getting a closer approach. The plot will be contextualized with the use of archival materials. On one hand, we contextualize Carmen as the main character, showing photos and home videos to help us understand her upbringing and relationship with her family. On the other hand, we contextualize the history of the Roma people through the archive.
“Carmen, No Fear of Freedom” comes at a key moment in history, where Roma communities are joining forces to fight for change. Far away from campervans, fun fairs, and markets, these women will inspire ethnic minorities across the world to fight the Goliath of white privilege. I firmly believe that this film tells a story that is very relevant to the social, political, and cultural situation that Spain (and other European countries such as France, Italy, and Bulgaria) currently finds itself in. I’m sure it will spark a lot of debate about the equality of ethnic minorities, a topic that is very much discussed everywhere in the world.”
– Irene Baqué, Director
