Ally Headings - Saving Face

            While viewing Saving Face, I didn’t immediately make a connection with The House is Black. But now that it’s been mentioned, I can see a few similarities between the two films. I recall discussing how the lepers in the colony in The House is Black were trapped within the colony, unable to leave. And in Saving Face, it’s kind of like the women were trapped behind their acid burns, and the only way to escape from that was through the plastic surgeon and also maybe through the lawsuits. I really was so happy that the new Pakistani law was enforced when that women won the case against he husband. That was such a huge turning point that will hopefully help the decline of these attacks. But it’s so clear in both the movies that these people care deeply about what they look like. The victims of the acid attacks were desperate to have a procedure to correct their face and many of them expressed that the attack “has ruined their life.” It may be a little different for the lepers in the colony, but we still saw them decorating themselves with fingernail polish and brushing hair to look good. I could see that more with the women than with the men.

            I found the comparison of acid attacks and the U.S. rape epidemic very interesting. It also kind of broke my heart. Most times, we interact with people who’ve been raped or sexually abused without even realizing it. I happen to be one of those people. It’s definitely not as obvious as the acid burns and scars that the women wear daily, unless of course, the rape results in a pregnancy. But even then people probably wouldn’t primarily suspect rape. Now I don’t know how easy it is for victims of rape to press charges and win a case in the United States, but if it’s anything like the system in Pakistan up until the change of laws, then that’s a real tragedy. But whether it’s rape or acid attacks, I will never be able to understand why people do these things to one another.
           On a note completely aside from the previous, I found it cool that I was able to talk to my dad about this. He had previously seen Saving Face on HBO last year. It was cool that I was able to enlighten my parents and discuss what we discuss in class every week. I don't know, it was a different experience for me, and very interesting to hear their reactions and opinions. I did really like the film, though. It was well made and like the girl in our class who appreciated the happy ending, I very much did too.