Power in storytelling: interview with filmmaker Nuala Cabral

NC: Street harassment is a personal, political and universal issue that is often dismissed and tolerated. This is problematic and I wanted to do something about it. I’m a filmmaker– so I made a film. I like to use video and film to explore my frustrations and questions about the world.

Walking Home attempts to question and disrupt the acceptance and the pervasive silence around these everyday interactions.

3. SSH: Wonderful. I love seeing people tap into their talents to bring attention to this issue. How did you decide what to cover during the film?

NC: Walking Home is for the walkers, the talkers and those who say nothing. And thinking about these audiences shaped my decisions about my approach with this film.

I wanted to portray a diverse range of people, because street harassment is universal, just like all forms of violence. Including voices of several women explaining their names, signifies universality and solidarity. The smile “command” is something I definitely wanted to include.  Self-entitlement operates in interesting ways and I wanted to open that door for discussion.

4. SSH: It seems like you have. Since 2009, Walking Home has been viewed more than 23,000 times on YouTube and linked to on numerous websites. What kind of responses have you received from viewers?

NC: One man mentioned that unfortunately the men who need to see Walking Home will never see it.   But actually some male friends have said that the film has caused them to reconsider the way they approach women. Many of the responses come from women who have experienced street harassment; Walking Home resonates with them.  But there is one response that has stood out  (from someone I have never met). Here’s an excerpt: 

“ive been that girl (as we all have been, clearly), still am sometimes.  but that is not what this reminded me of right away.  it reminded me of walking down the street with my parents as a child, my mother looking straight ahead, my father hooting and hollering without care or regard for his wife and child, at one of those ‘nameless’ girls passing by. and he continued to do this for many years in front of my sister and i, though he implored us to respect ourselves.  how could we?

you did not ask for my life story, i do not mean to burden you with it. but your work brought to the forefront of my mind for the first time in many years that hurt, that anger which was never addressed and never healed. it really moved me, exactly what great art does

… i wanted to thank you for this piece. at this moment my heart is so heavy when i think of him doing this and the years of abuse that followed, but im grateful for it because it has reminded me that there is still a wound there. and now that i can no longer ignore it, i aim to mend it.”