Grief explored in new film created by Findhorn-based artist

Grief is very often still seen as taboo. It can remind us of our own mortality, and either it’s hard to find the words to describe the pain being felt — or we struggle to know what to say to someone who is in the midst of loss.

A recent film created by Findhorn-based film-maker Maria Viola Craig has captured the journey of grief, by telling Dawn Bartlett’s story.

It was played at Boath House to a packed-out room on Friday evening.

Dawn runs the pre-loved clothing boutique, Daisy and Stanley, on Nairn High Street, which she began after losing her dad.

In the 15-minute documentary, called ‘Pre-Loved’, only-child Dawn discusses the loss she faced after moving from London to Nairn with her father.

She dives into the impact her father’s death had on her mentally and physically, by bravely sharing about weight gain, something that is felt by so many people but unfortunately carries so much shame.

Having lived in her father’s house after he passed, Dawn said it felt like ‘living with a ghost’ as she expected her father to be there when she arrived home.

Maria said: “I think grief is one of these taboo subjects. We don’t know what to write in letters. We have no etiquette really in how to do deal with that.

“There is a lot of fear and misconception and turning away from rather than embracing that it is a fact of life.

“We have losses and we have grief and sorrow and if we should be taught more to feel it, and be with it, rather than push it away as we are going to have to deal with it as some point or another.”

The biggest takeaway of the film, is that connection and community is healing.

Dawn’s store has become a respite for her, and others who have also experienced grief —together they are able to walk each other through life’s twists and turns.

Despite admitting, that friends are harder to make the older you get, especially in a new area, Dawn has managed to surround herself with people who ‘get it’ and nurtured her.

Her shop has become a place of respite for many, who need to just come and talk — and also maybe get some clothes in the process.

Speaking about the making of the film, Maria said: “I was just in the shop chatting to Dawn and was just going to make a wee video on her shop to promote it to begin with as it’s about the circular economy.

“But when I heard more about Dawn’s story I thought there was a depth to this pre-loved to re-loved.

“She had been pre-loved by her dad and now she is being re-loved by this community that she is giving to.

“I loved the whole community aspect of it. In this society I see a lot of loneliness but at Dawn’s shop, these women who are lonely go in. As well as healing herself, Dawn is allowing others to be in connection and heal themselves.”

“There is a lot of love in the film. You could feel it and maybe love is at the other side of grief and loss which I wanted to portray in the film.”

The film manages to the reach extreme depths of the human condition in a short time. It is hoped that the film can be used by charities to explore the topic of grief.

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