Is She Still There?: Child Sex Trafficking, Traumatic Memory and Resilience in Mischa Marcus’ Film I Am Still Here

Abstract

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.