“Children show scars like medals. Lovers use them as secrets to reveal. A scar is what happens when the word is made flesh.” - Leonard Cohen.

Leonard Cohen’s quote describes how I would like the SCARS to make us feel. Scars affect how we are seen and are often imbued with negative connotations — think of ‘Scar’ in The Lion King and Blofed — but instead of seeing a scar, can we see a story? Instead of feeling difference can we feel empathy?

SCARS features five people who tell us about how their scars have made them the people they are today.  War, self harm, conditions at birth, cancer and domestic violence scars signpost us through a collection of stories which are both extraordinary, yet every day.

As one of the people in the film says, her scars tell a story of pain, but they were also the making of her. More than ever, we need this reminder that human beings are physically and emotionally resilient.

SCARS, is out now on The Guardian.

There is also a photographic series and feature in The Critic.

With many thanks to the wonderful contributors: Pete, Christina, Helen, Simon and Cordelia.

Please consider completing this short survey after watching the film to find how how people perceive scars.

Credits:

Directed and Produced by Rebecca Lloyd Evans and Laura Dodsworth

Director of Photography Annemarie Lean-Vercoe

Editor Noah Payne-Frank

Music Pascal Wyse

Researcher Nasra Hassan

Sound Mix Ben Cape

Grade Ken Macfarlane

Executive Producers for The Guardian Charlie Phillips and Lindsay Poulton

Executive Producers for Tigerlily Productions Natasha Dack Ojumu and Nikki Parrot

Supported by Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Bristol