"Absent"

12 November 2019

4 mins 42s

Attendance for All

UK charity Freedom4Girls draw attention to the increasingly prevalent issue of period poverty in this hard-hitting short film. While campaigns towards menstrual equality in the developing world have increased awareness of the issue overseas, the organisation turns their focus closer to home here - to a land of hope and glory food banks and toilet paper pads.

The depressing fact that many households can't afford to put hygiene products on their priority list is thrown into sharp relief by the emotional distress of one teenage girl. Her turmoil is well drawn, a complex and affecting performance despite her barely speaking a word.

From the compassion of strangers who are familiar with what such crushing poverty looks like to the inter-generational nature of the struggle, this is a nuanced and highly emotive piece of work. From struggling food banks to students missing school through shame, this film offers a mirror via which Britain needs to take a good, hard look at itself.

UK

Charities