Cape Verde diagram

ANALYSIS

Q&A WITH RESPONSES

THEMES

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY

CONTEXT

FILM INTRODUCTION

CAPE VERDE, MY LOVE

• Cape Verde’s economy depends largely on money transfers, as many families rely on funds sent from relatives who have migrated in search of better opportunities
• Women bear the brunt of poverty, managing both emotional and physical labor while struggling with limited resources.

• Traditional male-dominated systems in Cape Verde reinforce cycles of abuse and dependency, trapping women in situations such as violence and social inequality.

CONTEXT

• KEY FILM DETAILS—Cape Verde, My Love was directed and filmed by Ana Lucia Ramos Lisboa. Released in 2007, it addresses gender, social issues, and other lasting effects of colonialism, focusing on women and their emotional/psychological tolls of abuse, poverty, and marginalization.
• KEY CONCEPTS- The Poverty and domestic abuse within the film cause trauma, women migrating offers both hope and escape and women face inequality as breadwinners and victims of systemic oppression.
• PRODUCTION NOTES—The film blends fiction with social commentary, highlighting Cape Verdean women's struggles with poverty, inequality, and societal conflicts.

FILM INTODUCTION :

1. How does this sequence reflect the broader theme of trauma in Cape Verde? The sequence shows how women’s trauma is driven by abuse, poverty, and neglect, highlighting the need for systemic change.2. What role does the daughter play in this scene? The daughter’s silence shows how trauma is passed to the next generation.3. How does the film tie gendered trauma to larger social structures like migration or poverty? The film links gendered trauma to poverty and migration, showing how women’s struggles are tied to systemic inequalities.

Q&A WITH RESPONSE

1. Close-up shots of the mother’s face emphasize the depth of her emotional pain and frustration, focusing on her internal struggle. 2. The subdued lighting creates a sense of emotional confinement, reflecting her feelings of despair and isolation. 3. The dialogue between the characters reveals the mother’s fight to be heard and acknowledged within the male-dominate structure of the household.

ANALYSIS

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY?

Who - The central characters are the mother, her abusive partner, and their daughter.What - The mother confronts her partner about his emotional neglect and abuse. The tension reveals the deep emotional trauma she endures.When - This scene occurs in the middle of the film, focusing on a critical moment in the family’s dynamic.-Where - The scene takes place in the family’s modest home, symbolizing emotional confinement and struggle.Why - This confrontation illustrates the theme of trauma, showing how emotional abuse affects not only the mother but also the next generation, especially the daughter. It also emphasizes the broader social issues of poverty and gender inequality.

1. Gendered Violence- The partner’s dismissive response highlights how systemic control and societal norms sustain gendered violence, where women’s emotional and physical suffering is ignored or justified. 2. Dreams of Migration- The mother’s longing to escape her harsh reality symbolizes how migration is viewed as a potential solution or coping mechanism to escape the domestic abuse, the poverty, and the societal limitations. 3. Intergenerational Impact- The daughter’s silent observation emphasizes how trauma is not only experienced by the mother but also passed down from generation to generation, showing the lasting emotional effects that shapes future lives.

THEMES (SECONDARY)