7/7 - Life Without Benedetta
On July 7th 2005, the United Kingdom was attacked in its capital, London, by terrorists who killed 52 innocent people and injured hundreds more. One of the victims was Italian born Benedetta Ciaccia who boarded the circle line from Liverpool Street. As her train approached the first stop along her journey, Aldgate, her life was violently and unfairly ended by the bomb blast. Raj Babbra was her former long term boyfriend and best friend. He explores Benedetta's life story and recounts their relationship from his perspective from the moment they met to her untimely sudden passing. This powerful and moving true story shows how love and friendship knows no boundaries in time, space, life or death.
About Documentary
This documentary was conceptualised by myself around March 2008 as I was inspired by a complaint I had buzzing in my head for a long time. I felt nobody really understands what it means to lose someone you love in such an act unless you have been personally affected. The general public remain depersonalised to the subject and not understanding the true nature of what happened and how July 7th still has an on going deep grieving effect with families and friends of the victims. This of course is applicable with any sudden loss of life.
The media can only portray so much about each victim of these attacks. Their life is summarised as a photo and a short spiel about their life. The character, the expression and the person they were has been completely missed. I decided I was going to offer a new perspective for people to appreciate by making a documentary to show each victim had a real life and demonstrated through the true story of who Benedetta Ciaccia was and how she lived.
I put my personal feelings aside to tell this story although it has been painful and emotionally draining to make this documentary. I had to unlock those memories I didn't want to relive but it was essential to bring it to attention. The documentary focuses on Benedetta's life from birth to death and how it was similar to so many other people's lives. It breaks down the barriers of people thinking this type of thing happens to "other people". I want the public to realise "other people" are actually just like them and could have been them. I aim this new perspective and understanding to have a positive knock on effect in combating terrorism and preventing further attacks.
The documentary is called "7/7 - Life Without Benedetta". It is a story about love and loss - not about anger or politics. Benedetta's name can really be replaced with anyone's name who has been suddenly lost because each and every person had their own problems, their own dreams, their own passions and when they were killed they all left many broken hearts behind. Benedetta represents an "everyday person".
As the documentary developed, the possibilities of what it could do also grew. I am aware about the lack of financial support for victim's families, survivors living with physical disability and those who have been affected psychologically. I intend to set up a charity / trust in Benedetta's name and memory to support this community more specifically to their needs as and when they arise. Although the logistics have yet to be worked out, it is intended that any money raised through the documentary will fund the charity.
Only 3 months ago I didn't have a clue about making a documentary. However, I put the idea out and it wasn't long until a documentary director, Rabia Bouchiba, heard about it through the grapevine. She committed herself into the documentary immediately and gave up all her evenings after work and days off to focus all her energy into this story. Further networking resulted in two individuals, George Leeder and James Phillips getting on board. They were completely unaware when joining the documentary that Benedetta was living local to them at the time she passed away. A film editor, Ingun Olsen, heard about the documentary and was also touched by the story and similarly to Rabia, George and James gave up her free time to edit the video footage to produce the final result. Everyone understood this story was not about making something sensational but touching the human spirit. Everyone who made this documentary have worked extremely long hours completely unpaid and out of the goodness of their heart. I would like to acknowledge and thank them all for their continuing hard work and for helping to allow this important story to be told.
I would also like to say a special thank you to all those who pledged donations towards raising the film budget. From your kindness we have been able to fly to Rome, Italy as an important aspect of the story to film around Benedetta's city and interview her family.
