The fight of the burn victims to change other people's look

400,000 people get injured in fires every single year in France, with 10,000 being medically diagnosed as having severe burns. On reaching the end of their often lengthy and painful treatment, burns victims’ initial reflex is to hide themselves away, particularly if their injuries are clearly visible. They isolate themselves not only to escape stares, but also because no specific structures exist to help them get back to living a (nearly) normal life, and media coverage of the topic is scarce. Founded by Laurent Gaudens, himself severely burnt at the age of 4, the Burns and Smiles association aims to improve the day-to-day lives of burns victims by offering a powerful web-based support network. With a view to heightening the general public’s awareness and helping burns victims step out of the shadows, TBWA Paris and \ELSE relate the story of one such individual, who we join for one very special evening. The film – directed by Nicolas Galoux – 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, much more than just once a year. Show your support for the Burns and Smiles association: log onto http://burns-and-smiles.org