Escaped Forced Marriage to Film Life's Painful Truths

Daro Hansen's debut feature, 'Little Sinner,' set for its world premiere at CPH:DOX, details her escape from a forced marriage in Syria. The film, co-directed with Thomas Papapetros, utilizes extensive personal archives filmed across multiple countries over two decades.

Hansen's narrative begins with her agreement to a temporary engagement, which quickly devolved into a violent marriage. A pivotal moment described in the film involved her husband's attempt to scalp her, solidifying her resolve to escape.

Supported by her Danish boyfriend, Hansen moved to Denmark but continued to be haunted by her trauma. The Syrian civil war in 2011 reignited her pain, prompting her to engage in humanitarian work with refugees in Lebanon and Greece.

The film's emotional core lies in Hansen's realization that the deepest wound was not the violence, but her mother's failure to protect her. Witnessing refugees confront their pain inspired Hansen to finally face her own experiences.

Hansen emphasizes that 'Little Sinner' addresses social control rather than faith, noting its prevalence across cultures. She and Papapetros, who met in 2012, collaborated on filmmaking workshops with refugees and documented Hansen's humanitarian efforts.

Initially, Hansen used her camera as a therapeutic tool, documenting her experiences privately. The arrival of their son, Lukas, marked the natural conclusion of the film, with his birth being the final scene recorded.

The title, 'Little Sinner,' refers to Hansen's concept of a quiet betrayal of oneself by neglecting personal boundaries and gut feelings. The film was produced by GotFat Productions and supported by several Danish and international film and media organizations.