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Maria d'Ovenal Films
Half of an elderly woman’s face, lit by a low light, emerging from the dark.

She always insisted on being served last.

Interpretive image.

She was born in Avenal.

She married young and moved to another village.

There she became Maria do Avenal, Maria from Avenal. Said often enough, it became

Maria d'Ovenal

An elderly woman standing at the head of a laid table, in the half-light of a country house.

Interpretive image.

She lived in the countryside all her life, and life was not easy on her.

At the table, if anyone tried to serve her first, she refused to the very end. She only sat down once she was sure nobody would go without.

That was how she showed her love for others.

In the family photographs, she is almost always laughing.

Real photographs, taken by the family between 2020 and 2021.

Maria, white-haired, holding a grandson who sleeps against her on the sofa.
Maria laughing out loud in a pink motorbike helmet and sunglasses.
Maria smiling in a red helmet, next to the chicken coop.
Maria riding pillion on a scooter, with a dog on her lap and a granddaughter driving.
Maria sitting at the kitchen table, hands folded, looking at the person taking the photo.

Why the company carries her name.

As a tribute, and out of pride in the special person she was.

And because it is the best description we have of the work: putting others first and staying last, behind the camera.

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