In History of a Secret, filmmaker Mariana Otero sets out to explore the great secret of her childhood—what happened to her mother, Clotilde Vautier?—and ends up creating a powerful and provocative meditation on family loyalty and the power of silence. Otero, who was told as a child that her mother was “away” in Paris because of her work as an artist, did not learn until a quarter-century later that Clotilde actually died as a result of a botched illegal abortion. Here, the filmmaker travels to France to talk about the deception with friends and family, including her sister Isabella (their conversation about how they dealt with the strange situation as youngsters is both unsettling and poignant). In Otero's chats with her mother's former companions, a portrait of a promising artist begins to emerge, which only amplifies the senseless tragedy of her death. Balancing the political with the personal (and demonstrating that the two can be one and the same), Otero weaves a complex and affecting tapestry of social tragedy and destructive secrets. Winner of the Best Documentary prize at the Valladolid (Spain) International Film Festival, DVD extras here include an interview with the director, as well as featurettes about the history of abortion and the work of Vautier. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Johanson)
History of a Secret
(2003) 95 min. In French w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.95. Facets Video. ISBN: 1-5658-0689-1. Volume 23, Issue 2
History of a Secret
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