El Poble Nou de Benitatxell stopped time this last Saturday to look into the eyes of its own history. The Social Centre was small in the central act of the programme on March 8: the premiere of ‘Memoria Viva II’, the second installment of the documentary project promoted by the Councillorship of Equality and produced by El Mirall de la Marina.
In this edition, the audiovisual has rescued the trajectories of ten women who are the pillar of local identity: María Bolufer, Tere Buigues, Teresita Cervera, Rosa Colomer, Sagrario Ferrer, Josefina Llobell, María Monfort, Patricia Oldfield, María Pascual and Isabel Soler.
«They are not considered extraordinary and they really are»
During the presentation, the Councillor of Equality, Isa Garrido, underlined the value of these ten stories united by an invisible thread: «their humility and simplicity». Garrido pointed out that these are women who «assumed responsibilities when they were still children» and who took care of fathers, mothers or siblings at a time when the sense of duty was deeply rooted. «If there is one thing they all share, it is that they are not considered extraordinary and they really are,» said the councillor.
The documentary reveals lives marked by work from a very early age to sustain the family economy. And also by extremely difficult life chapters, such as the tragic loss of a child or a father in childhood.
However, among the difficulties, the first steps towards female emancipation are also reflected. Several of the protagonists proudly recalled the importance of having obtained a driver’s license at a time when it was an exceptional milestone for a woman; a simple permission that for them meant independence and movement in a context of rigidly defined roles.
A memory without borders
As a novelty this year, the project has integrated the multicultural reality of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell by incorporating the testimony of Patricia Oldfield, a British resident. Her story shocked the audience as she narrated her experiences as a child during the beginning of World War II in London, her escape and the tragic loss of her father in a Nazi concentration camp.
«Memory does not understand borders,» said the councillor, stressing that the courage to leave a country and a language to embrace those of another community is also a way of resilience that builds the current identity of the municipality.
The event also helped to make a double recognition. On the one hand, a floral detail was given to the honorees of the edition of 2025, reaffirming the commitment of the council to the continuity of the project. On the other hand, this year’s ten protagonists received both a bouquet of flowers and an artistic photograph taken by Jake Abbott, who has managed to capture the essence and wisdom of their faces with exquisite sensitivity.
The technical work did not go unnoticed, with a special mention and much applauded to Lola Bolufer, municipal librarian, for her personal involvement and sensitivity in the care of this archive of oral memory. Also to El Mirall de la Marina, for their excellent work and involvement in the production of the documentary.
«Today we do justice to history»
The mayor, Miguel Ángel García, closed the turn of institutional interventions with a speech focused on the importance of collective memory. «A town that does not remember where it comes from will hardly know where it is going,» he said, stressing that the recovery of oral memory is a «race against the clock» and that it is vital that the new generations know these stories to understand the profound transformation of the people.
The mayor valued the effort of the protagonists, stating that «their testimony is of incalculable value» and that these women were pioneers when it came to sustaining the local economy with a dignity that today moves the entire community. She also recalled that equality is a commitment of the present: «Today we are not only claiming rights. Today we do justice to history.»
Final stretch of an intense programme
The premiere of the documentary adds to a week full of activities that began on March 3rd with the inauguration of Jake Abbott’s photographic exhibition and has included a walk, the I Women’s Football Tournament and inspiring talks by EUWMA. In addition, the Women’s Association has had an active role with its afternoon of games, theatre play and the traditional siblinghood meal with the reading of the institutional manifesto on Sunday.
The 8M programme now faces its last events: the Cineforum directed by Anna Moner on Monday, March 9th (5:00 p.m. at the Library) and the Talk by Marina Gilabert (Classicas y Modernas) entitled ‘Rights and responsibilities: the return of traditional gender roles in youth’ on Tuesday, March 10th (6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Library).
