Film
A Movement and Our Future
Like Wadley, women and children are the worst victims of any disaster.
There is a wise saying, “You educate a man, you educate man. You educate a woman, you educate a generation.” “Girl Rising” a feature film by Richard E. Robbins known for Operation Homecoming: Writing a Wartime Experience conveys this very message by telling the story of some brave daughters fighting for their right to be enlightened. From Cambodia to Peru, from the Far East to the new world, girls are being deprived of their right to education. When they are supposed to be in the classroom, millions of girl children are doing household chores in the kitchen or are scavenging in the polluted city streets for one square meal a day. But there is a glimmer of hope: girls around the world are struggling to get proper education and the ultimate outcome of struggle is indeed victory.
Education is a right, not a privilege for girls.
The High Commission of Canada to Bangladesh and Plan International Bangladesh (PIB) jointly arranged the screening of the film “Girl Rising” in Dhaka on November 30. The film tells the stories of the struggling girls who have finally achieved victory through their determination to know the world, to know the truth. Amina from Afghanistan, Yasmine from Egypt, Mariama from Sierra Leone, Rukhsana from India, Wadley from Haiti, Senna from Peru, Suma from Nepal, Azmera from Ethiopia--all these girls share their stories of struggle and survival in a hostile society. Their haunting stories reveal how these brave warriors have dealt with the worst elements of our society. It also encourages us to thrive against all odds by using our honest will power as the fuel. But finally it raises the question, what we are doing to save the lives of those whose stories have remained untold?
Eighty percent victims of human trafficking around the world are women, in a single year 150,000,000 girls fall prey to sexual violence--the statistics are grim. When these innocent girls present the information written in a white placard, it is very hard for the viewers to remain indifferent to their plight. The innovative style of presenting information through stories has also made the documentary unique.
Wadley, a girl from Haiti whose dream is shattered by a devastating earthquake, had to pass days in the refugee camp. But her enthusiasm to learn, has found a way to go back to school. Seeing her keen interest, a teacher finally allows her in the classroom without any tuition fees. Suma, a girl from Nepal, is the victim of an ill practice called Kamlari which compelled her to work in another person's house as a slave girl to earn a living. But with a resolute mind, she frees herself from slavery. She is now a teacher at the school she attended and works to free other girls who are victims of slavery.
With her team Suma is working to eradicate the Kamlari custom of enslaving children.
Senna, a girl from Peru has a different story to tell. After the death of his father who was a worker in one of the biggest gold mines in Peru, Senna's family fell into deep trouble. Senna says in desperation, “I hate this gold mine, this mountain that beholds this gold mine in it. This gold glitters only for the rich, not a speck of it for the poor who dig it out from the hard, rocky mountain.” To continue school this brave girl worked as a janitor but did not lose her direction. She has won a scholarship for her brilliant performance in class and for her poetry recitation skills. She dreams of becoming an engineer.
All girls portrayed in the film are icons of bravery. When the film took us to Rukhsana we see how a girl is building her future by removing hazardous obstacles created in the uninhabitable, filthy slums of Kolkata. Amina and Yasmine tell us the stories of breaking the barriers created by a hostile society where girls are treated like servants. When Azmera refuses to be married off and wishes to continue her studies, it echoes like the collective voice of revolution raised by the oppressed against the oppressors. When we see Amina rising against all odds, when we see Yasmine is protesting against child marriage, when we see Azmera is teaching the under privileged children, we know that revolution takes a human form every time a girl comes forward with the courage to break all barriers.
These haunting stories are described by Edwidge Danticat, Sooni Taraporevala, Manjusree Thapa, Aminatta Forna and the voiceover of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchette, and Selena Gomez gives it a special attraction.
Hans Zimmer and Rachel Portman's music has made it a documentary worth listening too. “Girl Rising” is not just a feature film; it's a stepping stone towards a bright future in which no girl will be deprived of education.
Educate a girl, educate a generation.
PHOTOS COURTESY: GIRL RISING
The writer can be contacted at shahnawaz.khan@thedailystar.net
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments