When the production team and I interviewed four women who worked in the sex trade in Wales for the film above, we were struck by the diversity of each interview: each revealing a different emotional state — whether it be loneliness, contempt or self-loathing.
Through a local organization, we connected with an outreach worker who supports vulnerable women. She was an essential link in making this film; her trust and love in the community made it possible for the women to open up to us.
To ensure the women felt comfortable sharing their often ignored stories without fear of judgment or compromised privacy, we chose to incorporate animation. Collaborating with illustrator and animator Ola Szmida was crucial. Her distinctive, stream-of-consciousness animation conveys the nuanced emotions and inner worlds of the women.
This film is about listening and understanding, seeing beyond the surface to the common threads that bind us all — resilience, loneliness, and the search for connection and purpose. We hope it fosters greater empathy and insight into lives that deserve to be understood and valued.
– Film and text by John Robert Lee (https://www.johnrobertlee.com/)
This 2024 Op-Doc is a shorter edition of the 2020 film “Not For Money, Not For Love, Not For Nothing.”
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Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries by independent filmmakers. Learn more about Op-Docs and how to submit to the series. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@NYTopinion).