Film
The intention of our film, "Tiempo Pequeño"' is to bring about awareness regarding domestic violence. My name is Mayte Váldes and this is my story: I have personally lived through years of abuse as a child and teenager and endured it up until I moved out of my parent’s house at the age of 17. Thinking I had escaped my painful childhood I later unknowingly entered into a relationship that nearly killed me, but I found strength within me to end it. Severe trauma, depression and PTSD have been a part of my life, and have unfortunately not only affected a great part of me, but also my husband Carlos and all my loved ones. My story isn't my story alone, sadly, is also the story of many girls, women and men who, like me, were abused as children, and have been in abusive relationships since then because as strange as it may sound, it is what is "normal" to us... it's familiar. We hope our film, “Tiempo Pequeño”, will help open people’s eyes about domestic violence. This is our way of speaking out. We want to end the myth that love and violence can coexist. NO CHILD, NO WOMAN, NO MAN, NO ONE, should ever have to endure what I did. The best way we know how to end this vicious cycle, and hopefully, help others, is through our artistic interpretation. It is our "voice." When words fail, art has an amazing ability to touch people’s hearts in a way that words alone cannot.