Paper short abstract:

Anthropological film Title: On her body Author: Edurne Urrestarazu Garcia Year of production: 2017 Language: Spanish (English subtitles) Length: 70 minutes.

Paper long abstract:

This proposed documentary is a corporeal itinerary that follows Esther's, a 89 year old Spanish woman's, body practices. In 2013 she lost the sight from the right eye caused by a cataract operation, and since then her body changed: the eye became alive, something to complain about and it came as the first sign of her vulnerability. Although she used to be a strong and independent person, she realized that she would need help, and she asked for it to her family. Now her body has become the core of the care and it has brought attention to the negotiations around her limits and capabilities. Although she still can manage to do things, her children are the ones who have become almost the owners of their mother's body, and that creates some challenges on the caring processes. Esther's body has expanded beyond the limits of her skin, and its now place for negotiation, resistance and agency. In an age where most of our elder people have started going to elderly houses, this documentary shows the caring process carried by a family, and the difficulties that that emanates. It is the aim of the film to redefine the concept of the body by showing the different intertwined spheres that it goes through, as well as to show a case of an elderly person being taken care.