What is the "Mailin" documentary about?

The "Mailin" documentary is about Mailin Gobbo, a woman who was sexually abused by a local priest for years, and her decade-long fight for justice against him.

How did filmmaker María Silvia Esteve approach making the "Mailin" documentary?

Esteve spent 8 years gaining the trust of Mailin Gobbo in order to create an intimate, visually striking film that blends courtroom footage, testimonials, and abstract visuals to portray Mailin's trauma.

What role did the Catholic church play in the case against the accused priest?

The documentary reveals that the Catholic church protected the accused priest, Carlos Eduardo José, even after the allegations surfaced, continuing to provide him with a salary and social security.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Survivor's Decade-Long Fight for Justice Inspires Intimate, Visually Striking Film

Survivor's Decade-Long Fight for Justice Inspires Intimate, Visually Striking Film

14 Nov

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Summary

Filmmaker María Silvia Esteve's 8-year journey to gain trust of abuse survivor Mailin Gobbo
Esteve's film blends courtroom footage, testimonials, and abstract visuals to portray trauma
Priest accused of abuse was protected by the Catholic church and judicial system

Survivor's Decade-Long Fight for Justice Inspires Intimate, Visually Striking Film

In 2025, filmmaker María Silvia Esteve is premiering her documentary "Mailin" at the IDFA film festival. The film is the result of an 8-year journey to gain the trust of Mailin Gobbo, a woman who had been sexually abused by a local priest for years.

Esteve first saw Mailin crying on television in 2016, as she recounted the abuse she suffered at the hands of the priest, a family friend named Carlos Eduardo José. Mailin was a key witness in the legal case against José, but he was ultimately cleared of all charges in 2021 due to Argentina's statute of limitations. Esteve felt compelled to help Mailin tell her story, recognizing the need for her voice to be truly heard.