The article discusses the film "Dalva," directed by award-winning filmmaker Emmanuelle Nicot in 2022, which presents a harrowing story about a 12-year-old girl named Dalva. The film begins with a disturbing scene where the police remove Dalva from her home following a neighbor's notification about her welfare. In a shocking commentary on manipulation and abuse, Dalva, under her father's influence, dresses and presents herself as an adult woman, resistant to the authorities as she shouts her father's name. This presents a convoluted portrayal of their relationship where Dalva perceives that her father's actions, though abusive, stem from love and a desire to protect her.

Dalva's father is revealed to be a monster, facing charges of child abduction and incest, yet the film portrays a complex psychological manipulation where Dalva defends her father, believing his love to be genuine. As new schoolmates discover the truth about her father, the implications of familial loyalty amid abusive relationships are explored. The film serves as a challenging examination of innocence lost and the severe effects of child abuse that are often misrepresented or misunderstood in society, urging the audience to confront uncomfortable realities about familial relationships.