The worst victims of war are women and children. Daily routines are destroyed and women are forced to become the breadwinner of the family. Furthermore, they are unable to protect themselves from sex crimes and have no place to protest this injustice that they are subjected to. For women and children a poverty-stricken life in the city is no better than war. In Violet Perfume: Nobody Hears You, which deals with Mexico city’s increasing sex crime problem, a frank portrait of the dangerous lives of poor urban women is presented. Based on true stories from filmmaker Maryse Sistach’s childhood, the film recreates a moving drama of two adolescent girls, both good friends of the filmmaker, whose lives are destroyed by heinous acts of rape.
 Like any ordinary 15-year-old middle-schooler, Yessica is as rebellious as she is inquisitive. In public she is a tomboy who fights boys for the honor of her best friend, Miriam, but at home she is a good sister who takes care of her younger brother and a good daughter who takes care of household chores. The only thing she resists is cleaning up the mess her step-brother creates. Greed for a pair of sneakers leads Yessica’s step-brother, a bus conductor, to assist his co-worker and bus driver to rape Yessica. Although the rape leaves her devastated, Yessica refuses to report this to anyone for fear that no one, not even her family or school, will understand her.
 The only comfort she finds is in her best friend, Miriam. Yessica adores the scent of violets that she smells from Miriam, as it enables her to escape from the smell of poverty and alienation that she herself reeks of. Although Miriam also leads a meager life with her mother, there is love and care within the family. But Yessica’s lack becomes a reason for Miriam’s mother to reject her daughter’s friendship with Yessica. Convinced that no one would believe her story, Yessica steals a bottle of violet-scented perfume from the store in the hope that it will conceal the smell of rape from her body. Unfortunately, this only puts Miriam on the spot.
 The film’s exploration of friendship, betrayal, oppression and rebellion provide an in-depth insight into the social and institutional causes of sexual violence. Unlike films that exploit the sensationalism of graphic rape scenes, this film not only conceals this aspect but also focuses on the effects of such violence. The elaborately constructed script, unique array of colors, discreet cinematography, music that touches the senses, and economy of editing leave a lasting impression even after the film has ended. (Nam In-young)