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Domestic violence is the world’s most-watched combat sport, with over 800 million*
spectators annually. It’s also the dark side to the happiness in Finland. Life at the
Ringside, a documentary by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
directed by Iris Olsson, gives voice to those who spent their childhood at the
ringside, in a battle they could not escape.

Every year, 275 million children around the world witness violence – physical,
psychological, or both – within their families. In Finland this is every seventh child**
and the numbers are increasing.

Witnessing violence as a child causes as much psychological harm as being directly
subjected to it. This is why the Finnish parliament now wants to criminalize and
create a separate crime title for the child exposed to the crime, i.e. sees, hears or is
present when the crime takes place.

“Domestic violence is the world’s most-watched combat sport. And every child forced
to live at its ringside is one too many. We work to ensure that everyone has the right
to a safe home and a life free from the fear of experiencing or witnessing violence,”
says Sini Stolt, Senior Specialist at THL.

Director Iris Olsson Speaks for the Forgotten Front Row

In the short documentary the interviewees arrive in an arena to face their childhood.
The ring represents the past, the violence then witnessed. The chairs around the ring
represent the numbers witnessing violence on a daily basis. Five different
experiences form one story. Award-winning Finnish director Iris Olsson, renowned
for her compelling and human-centered stories, was chosen to helm the
documentary.

"It was clear from the beginning that I don't want to show our characters as victims or
claim that time heals all wounds. Our experiences can leave us with a heavy burden,
but even so, life continues. Witnessing violence causes hate, and sometimes hate is
a force that can be turned around as a resource to survive. I deeply respect our main
characters. Through their stories the reality of too many homes become visible. It
takes immense courage to accept one's trauma as a part of their life story, and after
that to share the story with others.", states Olsson.

The documentary features five individuals who grew up surrounded by domestic
violence. Arto, Ismo, Joni, Mirkku, and an anonymous woman share stories of
broken homes where witnessing violence was normalized. They reflect on how these
experiences shaped their lives.

The short documentary Life at the Ringside offers a deeply moving perspective on
the enduring psychological wounds caused by domestic violence and explores how
confronting trauma can help break free from a painful past. It represents a
groundbreaking way to raise awareness of a silent crisis.

Watch the documentary here.