Middle East Film Night

UNVEILED VIEWS: Muslim Women Artists Speak Out, a film by Alba Sotorra

2009 | 52 minutes | Color | DVD | Bosnian, Turkish, Farsi, Urdu | English subtitles

SYNOPSIS

In this revealing documentary five extraordinary women talk about their occupations, aspirations, and the rights and status of women in their Muslim countries. Bosnian Alma Suljevic risks her life daily clearing the landmines near Sarajevo that are war’s deadly legacy, then sells minefield earth in European art galleries so that she can continue her work. Eren Keskin, a longtime human rights activist and lawyer with music conservatory training, fights to change Turkey’s legal practices that perpetuate violence against women. Veteran filmmaker Rakshan Bani-Ehmad, true to her credo that art must “look, observe, and discover”, frequently pushes Iran’s censorship rules to the limit. Surrounded by conflict since childhood, young Afghani writer Moshagan Saadat creates brave, profoundly moving and memorable poems. And renowned Pakistani dancer Nahid Siddiqui, once forced to live outside her homeland when her work was banned, continues to perfect, renew, and teach her art form. Captured by Spanish filmmaker Alba Sotorra, who hitchhiked from Barcelona to Pakistan to shoot UNVEILED VIEWS, these self-portraits of hope, heroism, and pride challenge conventional Western stereotypes about women in the Islamic world. 

Post-film discussion: Dr. Khedidja R. Boudaba, Professor of Practice in Arabic

This is a FREE screening + FREE Pizza & Beverages

Supported by the Newcomb Art Department, Newcomb Institute, and CELT (Center for Engaged Learning and Teaching)