Monday, September 16, 2013

Misogyny and slavery


            Misogyny and slavery are two horrific crimes against humanity that have been perpetuated by other humans for thousands of years.  The film Saving Face did a magnificent job at illustrating how these two age-old travesties are still very much alive and present in the world today. 
            The women in this film were victims of acid attacks and their stories were an eye opening experience for me.  I had heard about men in various countries and sometimes their female family members throwing battery acid or gasoline on unfortunate wives who failed to please their new family, but I had never had a chance to have a deep look into the lives of these victims. The heroines of this movie allowed the filmmakers to examine their lives as they struggled with being physically maimed by truly hideous people.             
            Rakshauna’s story struck me very deeply.  It was dark and disturbing to begin with, but the mood that was created when she opened up the window in her small home and stroked the stonewall that separated her from her daughter was haunting.  Her husband’s continued inane ramblings that he was guiltless of any crime against his wife stirred an immense amount of anger in me.
            I was shocked when the documentary ended on a victorious note.  When the new law was passed the joy was very easy to see on the survivors of these attacks.  And though this movie was filled with emotional trauma and horrifying tales of abuse from a patriarchal society it was able to find the good that can come when men and women join together to protect each other as equal individuals.  

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