Private Project

Do you remember me?

*Sara, a young muslim woman from Switzerland, seeks and finds her christian circumciser after 20 years in an Ethiopian village and decides to become an activist against FGM.*

Directors: Désirée Pomper and Helena Müller
Composer: Marcel Vaid

Sara (28) was 7 when she was circumcised in Harar, Ethiopia. “In this moment I lost my childhood”, she says. As an adult Sara decides to seek her circumciser. “I want to look into her eyes and tell her what she has done to me”, Sara explains. The young woman, who meanwhile lives in Switzerland, hopes to process her trauma this way.

Sara travels to Harar in November 2019 and succeds to find the woman who had cut her. “Do you remember me?”, Sara asks. The circumciser affirms. She doesn’t feel guilty at all. Nevertheless Sara has the power to forgive her and find her inner peace.

Sara discovers that girls are still circumcised, even it’s prohibited in Ethiopia since 2007. She succeeds to talk to a young victim, her mother and an active circumciser. Sara tries to understand why this bloody tradition is still practiced and decides to become an activist against FGM.

This is a story about FGM, pain and anger. But also about hope, trust and empowerment. Or to say it in Saras words: “It doesn’t matter what happened to you in the past. There is a way to be happy again.”

We are glad that award-winning composer Marcel Vaid has created the film music.

We are happy to announce our expected associates: Unicef, Amnesty International and Menschen für Menschen.

  • Désirée Pomper
    Director
  • Helena Müller
    Director
  • Désirée Pomper
    Writer
  • Helena Müller
    Writer
  • Désirée Pomper
    Producer
  • Helena Müller
    Producer
  • Helena Müller
    Camera
  • Murat Temel
    Camera
  • Marcel Vaid
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 23 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 26, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 CHF
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ethiopia
  • Language:
    Amharic, English, Oromo, Swiss German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Women in Film Festival Vancouver
    Vancouver
    Canada
    13th of march
    Award Best Documentary, Award Best Cinematography
  • Solothurner Filmtage
    Zürich
    Switzerland
    January 20, 2022
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • 20 Minuten
    Distributor
    Country: Switzerland
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Désirée Pomper, Helena Müller

Désirée Pomper is a documentary filmmaker based in Zurich and deputy chief editor of 20 Minuten, a free daily newspaper and online medium in Switzerland.

Désirée studied International Relations at HEI in Geneva and is highly interested in human rights, north-south gap and migration topics.

Helena Müller is a documentary filmmaker based in Zurich and Video Producer of 20 Minuten, a free daily newspaper and online medium in Switzerland.

Helena studied Journalism and Communication in Zurich and is a young filmmaker interested in personal stories with a social relevance.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Désirée Pomper:
"Show the story behind the news and fight human rights violation."
This are the reasons why I became a journalist and a documentary filmmaker. It's our responsability to point the finger on subjects people prefer to shut their eyes and ears.

Helena Müller:
«My goal was to tell the story of a young courageous woman with the hope to help and inspire other young women.»