Mira, a curious and impish six-year-old girl, has a fundamental need in order to explore and understand the world: to feel loved by her mother.

Review by Victoria Angelique:

Abuse lingers on a child’s brain and can impact the interactions with other people even when placed somewhere safe. This is what is depicted through 6-year-old Mira in UNE VIE APRÉS, a film that will have moments that has the audience gasping out loud at the trauma this sweet child endures before she is removed from her abusive situation. 

The film begins on a sweet moment of Mira being a typical kid, in what the audience will assume is a moment where the child is staying out of trouble. The spectacular cinematography shows the point of view from Mira throughout the narrative, beginning with a literal view from the binoculars where the girl is observing nature. It’s a moment typical of most children, one filled with curiosity and wonder. This changes quickly when Mira is displaced by being locked in a shed. The cinematography changes with the change in scenery, what was beautiful turns ugly, as Mira looks at cobwebs and spiders in the dusty shed. 

The story delves into what abuse, both psychological and physical, can do to the brain. Mira is able to daydream about the places and people that make her feel safe. It is often interrupted by her abusive mother, where the film delves straight into the child’s brain by showing neurons changing from the calm blue to a warning red. Red slowly begins to cover up the blue, as Mira is always on guard. She is not able to recite a poem at a gathering of her parent’s friends, embarrassing both of them, only made worse when she drops chocolate cake on her new dress. Red fires at all cylinders, Mira knows she’s not safe from her mother’s biting words. 

The final gasping moment is when the neurons are almost completely red as Mira’s mother chases her with a whip that hangs on the wall. The audience knows what is coming, even though the film doesn’t depict the child being beaten, the firing neurons state how bad this physical form of abuse is hurting Mira. The words were bad enough, but the beating only adds to the damage. Fortunately Mira’s mother is drunk, so she falls down the stairs unconscious. Mira’s father ignored the entire situation, which allows the small child to be whisked to safety by social services to live with her Nanny.

This is the moment where the film shows the brain is healing, but a small red warning light remains tucked in the corner of Mira’s brain. She is beginning to heal and words of encouragement cause the neurons to fire like fireworks. This indicates that it will take awhile to heal, but healing is possible. 

This short film shows the true impact of abuse on children’s delicate minds. It is powerful and will leave a lasting impact on anyone that watches Mira’s story.