It is said that to know who we are in a holistic sense, we must know where we come from. Studying and organising our family tree will give us the clues we need to follow in this process, but for some people, the primary source of information does not exist. They may have been abandoned by their mother or be orphans and not know who she was. People who lack this information often have an existential void that sooner or later they need to fill. Something like this happened to Mariska Hargitay, who, after becoming famous, felt the need to find answers to her questions.

Perhaps her name does not sound familiar to you; before the documentary, it was not familiar to me either, but I did recognise her when I saw her. She is the actress who plays the character of Detective Olivia Benson in the crime television series Law & Order. If you have ever seen an episode of this series, you will know who this woman is. Well, her story is based on the fact that she lost her mother when she was three years old and grew up with a mistaken or incomplete idea about her.

Her mother was a Hollywood star who died very young and, like all famous people, she had fans who adored her and haters who hated her. Mariska, through a documentary project, interviewed her siblings and loved ones. She was not satisfied with what appeared in the newspapers at the time and decided to get to know, understand, and accept her mother with her virtues and flaws. After discovering secrets and shedding many tears, she realised that her mother deserved her admiration and love even after so many years since her death.

It was not easy to find the truth, as both her father and the rest of her relatives had decided not to talk about her mother. So, without having a clear opinion of who she was, she immersed herself in photos, newspaper clippings, television notes, and interviews with her mother. Mariska felt that she was freeing herself from the pain and judgement she had always placed on her mother's memory and was able to embrace her memory with love.

It is surprising to see how some people can achieve professional success despite having gaps in their family history. During the documentary, I felt the same need as Mariska to get to know her mother. The way her story is told with sensitivity ensures that the memory of those who are no longer with us is respected. I also noticed how the protagonist presents herself in a clear and natural way, facing her fears and sharing her story with viewers, something that deserves recognition, as it is a powerful and personal subject that not everyone is prepared to share.

It is incredible how we can form an opinion about a person based on the opinions of others without knowing them personally, and even though that person is not present, their thoughts and actions speak for themselves. The ending of the documentary made me happy and reflective. I recommend you watch it; it has some surprises that I cannot reveal, and it is worth noting that Mariska was the director of this film.