Persister: Women speaking up and being heard
In 2008, Teodora Vásquez was convicted of aggravated homicide and sentenced to 30 years in prison for having had a late-term miscarriage. Her widely publicized case was brought to El Salvador's highest court, where it became a symbol of the extremism in the criminalization of abortion and the cruelty directed towards women in the Salvadoran legal system. During this process, Teodora became a reluctant yet passionate spokesperson for the many women of the country similarly sentenced, giving a voice to those who had been silenced by the system, before finally being released after a 10-year battle. Digging deep into the regressive politics of the country, heavily influenced by religion and patriarchy, director Celina Escher also centres the stories of the women of El Salvador, as they share the pain and grief of losing a child, along with the hope and inspiration they take from Teodora’s success. A truly empowering story of resilience and solidarity, Fly So Far is an unforgettable portrait of a reluctant activist determined to speak up be heard, not only for herself but for all her sisters in the struggle against oppression. Darlene Naponse
Persister program presented in partnership with Oxfam Canada
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