Some 400,000 people get injured in fires every single year in France, with 10,000 being medically diagnosed as having severe burns. Upon reaching the end of their often lengthy and painful treatment, burn victims initially tend to hide themselves, particularly if their injuries are clearly visible. They isolate themselves not only to escape stares but also because there are limited, if any, resources to help them resume living a (nearly) normal life.
One corrective step would be to raise public awareness of burn victims and their desire to step out of the shadows. Towards that end, TBWA/Paris conceived of this film which introduces us to an adult burn victim who goes out on Halloween night because it’s the one time he can walk in public without eliciting public stares, pity or fear.
TBWAElse produced this piece, directed by Nicolas Galou, which promotes Frances’ Burns and Smiles association. Founded by Laurent Gardens, himself severely burnt at the age of four, the group aims to improve the day-to-day lives of burn victims by offering a powerful web-based support network (click here). This film demonstrates the extent to which other people’s attitudes and sense of acceptance are two of the keys to coaxing burns victims out of isolation and putting a smile back on their faces–something that should happen year ‘round and not confined to just Halloween.
