After a news review with Sasha Kehoe, the topic of today’s show is Domestic Violence.
Several years ago, Eric Lamhène and Rae Lyn Lee set out to make a film featuring a character with a backstory of domestic abuse. However, during their 2017 research, as they visited shelters for victims, they realised that this was the story they truly wanted to tell.
‘Breathing Underwater’ (Hors d’Haleine) is the result. Produced by Samsa Film, this Luxembourgish independent feature-length film was released in cinemas on 13th of November 2024 and will be re-shown on 7 March ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March. Eric is the director and Rae Lyn is the co-writer and Director of Photography.
My other guest, Christine Renzi, is a social worker who has worked with women and children at Foyer Sud for many years. Today she is part of a team that runs the “Log-in”, part of Conseil National des Femmes du Luxembourg, CNFL.
Eric and Rae Lyn discuss the resilience of the women they encountered in shelters, highlighting both the camaraderie and challenges they face as they figure out a new path forward. Eric points out that many of these women are expats, as Luxembourgers often reconnect with family or friends in times of crisis.
Christine adds that while some women – predominantly women – may return to the shelters, most eventually leave when they feel ready.
Both Christine and Eric & Rae Lyn have taken their work into schools, where they find that children, regardless of socio-economic background, either come forward to share their own experiences or leave, unable to relive the pain.
Domestic abuse comes in many forms and it is not always physical. Psychological abuse can be more harmful in ways as it constantly chips away at the other’s confidence, gaining control of that person, making them feel as though they live in a fog of doubt. The victim’s circle diminishes, they may loose work and certainly loose confidence. Often there is a trigger to leave the home, and often this trigger is the children.
Of course men are also victims although the figures at the moment for men are much lower than for women. Nonetheless, in Luxembourg law, both genders are seen in equitable terms.
What makes a (mostly) man abuse another? Eric says that his conversations with psychologists suggest it happens when these men are not in contact with their emotions. “The patriarchy hurts both sides”.
If you want to check the violence scale, follow this link which is a good resource.
If you need help and support in Luxembourg please contact: www.violence.lu
You can find more information from Eurostat here.
Contact Lisa here.
Tune in to The Lisa Burke Show on Today Radio Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am.
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