Be the change you wish to see in the world
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” – the words of Mahatma Gandhi could well serve as the life motto of the female protagonists of the films presented at the 22nd Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival in the Women Change the World section. Each of them - from teenage girl rappers to brave female soldiers and outstanding female scientists - makes the world a better place. See how women are changing reality.
The Unwomanly Face of War?
Alisa Kovalenko, known to the MDAG audience from “We Will Not Fade Away” presented at the 20th edition of the festival, this time takes us straight to the frontline. She dedicates “My Dear Théo” to her son. By documenting the soldier's everyday life – the spartan living conditions, the interactions between comrades-in-arms and the uncertainty of tomorrow – she talks about parental devotion and longing for one’s child. The willingness to sacrifice her own life for the sake of her son’s better future is, from her perspective, an expression of maternal love.
The separation from family and friends is also discussed by Najiba Noori and Farahnaz Sharifi. We get to know the first of them, an Afghan journalist, as she gets to Paris shortly after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. The second woman – an Iranian filmmaker celebrating her birthday on International Women's Day – presents a collection of home archives left behind by those fleeing the country after the Islamic Revolution. “Writing Hawa” and “My Stolen Planet” offer a unique look behind the scenes of regimes that treat women as second-class citizens: not only do they impose head covering, but they also multiply further prohibitions, excluding the films’ female protagonists from public life. These films remind us of two truths: no right is given forever, and no one has yet successfully fought for their rights by sitting quietly at home.
One person who doesn't think twice about keeping quiet is Noam Shuster, the protagonist of “Coexistence, My Ass!,” an activist and comedian whose parents instilled in her a radical belief that Israelis and Palestinians can form a community. Despite the increasingly tense situation in the region, she does not lose her spirit. She uses humour to expose inequalities and bring her audience closer to the Arab culture demonized by the media. Like Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham in their film “No Other Land”, awarded an Oscar and the Grand Prix Millennium Bank Award at last year’s edition of MDAG, director Amber Fares also ends her story shortly after the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Will the dream of peace turn out to be a grim joke?
Women vs. the system
The land in the film “Yintah” is the subject of a dispute between the First Nations Wet'suwet'en tribe and the Canadian government. When billions of dollars worth of investments are at stake, politicians seem to overlook not only the concept of reconciliation but also nature conservation and court rulings that recognize the right of Indigenous peoples to administer their territory. Leading the resistance movement are two charismatic activists – Freda and Molly – also known as Howilhkat and Sleudo'. The directorial trio – Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano and Jennifer Wickham – follow them side by side, exposing the cynicism of people in power and proving that colonial practices are still going strong.
Another fearless fighter is the protagonist of “Patrice: The Movie,” directed by Ted Passon. Although life keeps throwing obstacles in her way, the woman perseveres in pursuit of her goal. Thanks to her cheerful disposition, she finds the strength to confront even such a powerful opponent as the U.S. IRS.
Sofia Bekatorou, the Athens (2004) Olympic champion, and her younger colleague Amalia Provelengiou also confront a mighty opponent. Director Vanya Turner tells their story in “Tack.” Will it lead to a change in the way people who have experienced sexual violence are perceived?
The sky is the limit
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, manages to break through the glass ceiling. However “Sally,” directed by Cristina Conatantini, is not only a chronicle of the protagonist’s spectacular successes. The director gives a lot of attention to the fear of ostracism, which forced the astronaut to hide her identity and her relationship with another woman from the rest of the world for years.
Meanwhile, the younger generation boldly declares: “I am a feminist.” Pointing the camera at girls from a Berlin elementary school and members of a hip-hop group, “Sisterqueens” director Clara Stella Hunem shows the changes that are already taking place in society. The young protagonists have strong opinions and are not afraid to speak out. With such an attitude, the sky is the limit.
Ewelina Leszczyńska - film critic associated with Filmweb.pl. Since childhood it was her dream to get paid for watching films; she therefore entered the Jagiellonian University, graduating in 2015 with a degree in Film Studies and New Media Studies. She has as much love for David Lynch's surrealist madness as she does for the productions of Troma and The Asylum. What she values in documentary cinema are out-of-the-box stories that provide a new perspective on the world.
