Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Thirst for learning defies forced marriage in film
| Entertainment
|
My Profile
Top News
Reuters top ten news stories delivered to your inbox each day.
Subscribe
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
Entertainment
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Film
Music
People
Television
Arts
Industry
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
Your View
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
Your View
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Thirst for learning defies forced marriage in film
Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:50pm EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Brian Rohan
BERLIN (Reuters) - Life hangs in the balance in a new film about an Iraqi girl whose father betroths her to a local sheikh, leaving her with a very adult choice: submit and forget dreams of education or risk death in the name of honor.
In "Niloofar," the determined 13-year-old is caught in a trap where opportunism and tradition push families to propagate customs that lead to their own regret -- unless individuals step up to tempt fate.
Filmmaker Sabine El Gemayel said she based the script on a girl she met while growing up in Lebanon, who, like protagonist Niloo, was confronted by forced marriage. But she said the issue the movie addresses is larger than a single region.
"It's a humanist film that's critical of a specific tradition, not a culture ... I did not want to make a film that was anti-Arab," she told Reuters after a screening at the Berlin film festival.
Gemayel said while the stakes may be higher in the Middle East, pressure to marry for money is not uncommon elsewhere.
"It's socio-economic pressure, and it happens across societies, also in the upper classes and whenever family wealth is in play," the 37-year-old, first-time feature director said.
MALE PRESSURES TOO
Statistics on forced marriage are few and far between, but the U.N. estimates more than 60 million women in developing countries were married before the age of 18, with the practice most common in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Other studies show forced marriage occurring in the industrialized world, though rebellion against it rarely ends up in the honor killings that make headlines elsewhere.
The film, however, touches on the issue, as when Niloo's father seizes a chance to escape landless peasantry over a game of backgammon and her brother holds a knife to her neck.
Shot in Iran and featuring several Iranian stars, the drama unfolds against a backdrop of palm trees and sweeping shots of vast landscapes that all but dwarf the struggling heroine.
Ethereal female vocals and Arabic rhythms dominate the soundtrack, intensifying as Niloo's options diminish and the lamentations of her brilliant-eyed, resigned mother intensify.
Women also play the part of oppressor in the film, with some promoting the idea that sons are more valuable family assets. Boys and men obsessed with gossip and reputation are portrayed as nervous subjects of social hierarchy.
"It also shows the inner conflict on the male side, the pressure, but it underlines the fact that there is always a choice," Gemayel said.
She remained optimistic that individual choices could lead societies toward progress, noting that "just sixty years ago in the United States there was serious racism and segregation."
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Barat rules out Libertines reunion "right now"
Also on Reuters
Cuba launches own Linux to counter U.S.
Pressure mounts on Madoff middlemen
Video
Video: Can algae save the world -- again?
More Entertainment News
Phoenix says "no turning back" on quitting acting
| Video
"American Idol" boots off Joanna Pacitti
Zellweger plays woman desperately seeking husband
Barat rules out Libertines reunion "right now"
"Desperate Housewives" to lose Nicollette Sheridan
More Entertainment News...
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
U.S. and Russia track satellite crash debris
Threats send California octuplets mom into hiding
U.S. retail sales rebound, jobless claims stay high | Video
Chavez denounces new plot before Venezuela vote
Cuba launches own Linux variant to counter U.S.
Pakistan says it arrests Mumbai attack plotters | Video
UPDATE 3-Congress prepares final vote on stimulus
Koala love story wins hearts after deadly fires | Video
Wall St. CEOs berated by lawmakers | Video
U.S. vaccine court denies family's autism case
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Koala bushfire survivor wins hearts
Turning green goo into fuel
Bloodshed in Afganistan
Model in bikini graces Boeing jet
Artificial limbs get more control
Geithner, Bernanke sell bailout plan
Geithner grilled over bailout plan
Talk of the Town
Mummy find in Egypt
Sci-fi laser stiches wounds
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
Pictures
Slideshow
Grammy glam
The Grammys raised the curtain on fashions that included Kanye West's sparkling tuxedo and M.I.A.'s bold maternity wear. Slideshow
Slideshow
Grammy performances
Artists perform under the bright lights at the Grammy Awards, showcasing a wide selection of music. Slideshow
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Friday, 13 February 2009 U.S. airbase in Kyrgyzstan locked up in limbo
| International
|
U.S. warns of space dodgeball after satellite crash
| International
|
Joaquin Phoenix Makes Disastrous "Letterman" Appearance
Russia NATO envoy says alliance needs Moscow's help
| International
|
Colombian ambush kills seven, 15 more wounded
| International
|
Google exits broadcast radio ad business
| Technology
|
U.S. tweaks Internet privacy guidelines
| Technology
|
Netflix passes 10 million subscriber mark
| Technology
|
Google plans data center at old Finnish paper mill
| Technology
|
Feb 12 Highlights Of Low Points In U.S. Economy
Nevada Leads U.S. Home Sales While Prices Drop To Record Low
67 Computers Missing From Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab
Former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici Subpoenaed In Attorney Firings Probe
Oil Refiners Slow Down Production To Keep Prices Of Gasoline Up
Racist 1908 Incident In Abe Lincoln's Hometown Led To Formation Of NAACP On 100th Centennial Of His Birth
Retailers Expect Weak Valentine's Day Spending
American Idol boots off Joanna Pacitti
| Entertainment
|
Michael Shannon finds Oscar nod nice, life strange
| Entertainment
|
Thirst for learning defies forced marriage in film
| Entertainment
|
Barat rules out Libertines reunion right now
| Entertainment
|
U2 gets week long gig on David Letterman show
| Entertainment
|
Just A Minute With: Doubt Oscar nominee Viola Davis
| Entertainment
|
67 Computers Missing From Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab
67 Computers Missing From Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab
Vatican Accepts Darwin's Theory Of Evolution Compatible With Christianity
Murder Charge For Mom Who Dropped Baby In Lake Pontchartrain
Racist 1908 Incident In Abe Lincoln's Hometown Led To Formation Of NAACP On 100th Centennial Of His Birth
Retailers Expect Weak Valentine's Day Spending
On Darwin's 200th Birthday, Less Than 40 Percent Of Americans Believe In Evolution
Australian man charged over deadly bushfires
| International
|
US envoy prepares for key Afghan talks
Pakistan says it arrests Mumbai attack plotters
| International
|
U.S., France, UK oppose suspending Bashir Darfur case
Final count leaves Israel with election headache
| International
|
Cruise-in In Daytona
Hamas agrees truce, announcement within 48 hrs: report
North Korea assembling longest-range missile: report
| International
|
Netanyahu ahead in battle for Israel's helm: observers
Dozens feared dead in US plane crash
Cuba's Fidel Castro doing well: Chilean president
| International
|
8 more Shiite pilgrims killed by Iraq bomb attack
Ex-Somali president's son set to become PM
| International
|
Family income linked to child language skills: study
U.S., France, UK oppose suspending Bashir Darfur case
| International
|
Hamas says Gaza truce deal expected in next 3 days
US scientists defend Darwin from attacks on evolution
Tibet's religious life still bruised by Lhasa riots
| International
|
Reformist candidate slams Iran's hard-line leader
US lawmakers gird for stimulus showdown
Slumdog turns spotlight on Mumbai's biggest slum
| International
|
Final count leaves Israel with election headache
Economic crisis top US security concern: intel chief
Cleaner waters attract sharks to Sydney beaches
| International
|
Moderate party holds edge in final Israeli count
Sudan dismisses Beshir ICC charge as 'rumours'
Obama hails Lincoln's legacy on bicentennial
Lincoln text urging unity sells for 3.4 mln dlrs
UK celebrates 200th Darwin anniversary
Microsoft to open own stores, take on Apple
| Technology
|
US retail sales stage surprise rebound
U.S. tweaks Internet privacy guidelines
| Technology
|
U.S. video game sales show continued strength
| Technology
|
US plane crashes into home, burst into flames
Google plans data center at old Finnish paper mill
| Technology
|
Pennsylvania County Judges Plead Guilty To Wire, Tax Frauds
Continental Plane Crashes Into New York Home, 49 Killed
YouTube renews music video deal with Sony Music: sources
| Technology
|
Obama Vows Justice For USS Cole Victims, To Transfer Bombing Mastermind To U.S. Prison
U.S. Navy In Second Seajack Bust, Arrests 9 Suspected Pirates
"Mortal Combat" videogame maker seeks bankruptcy protection
Iran nuclear arms bid unclear: US intel chief
Microsoft Seeking Worm Source, Offers $250,000 Reward To Informant
Royal watchers can track British Queen on website
| Technology
|
YouTube testing video downloads
Iridium says in dark before orbital crash
Southwest Airlines Plane Catches Fire, Makes Emergency Landing In Las Vegas
New York City Should Consider Four-Day Work Weeks, New IBO Reports Says
World economic crisis is top U.S. security threat
YouTube renews music video deal with Sony Music: sources
Sen. Judd Gregg Withdraws From Commerce Secretary Consideration
Congress sets final votes on stimulus for Friday
U.S. video game sales show continued strength
New Unemployment Claims Fall In First Week Of February
40 job cuts as Google exits broadcast radio ad business
Wall Street Pares Losses On Home Loan News
More Americans updating status online: Pew
Freed Ukrainian cargo crew back on land
Online retail spending falls in 4th qtr: comScore
Italy's right-to-die woman buried in native village
Microsoft offers reward to catch worm maker
Britain refuses entry to far-right Dutch MP
NASA scoops up Twitter award for Mars 'tweets'
Russia wants 'fully fledged' ties with NATO: Medvedev
Cuba gets its own twist on Linux
YouTube renews music video deal with Sony Music: sources
Facebook, Nokia look to bring social network to mobiles
Dreamgirl Hudson dominates NAACP Image awards
| Entertainment
|
Madonna the top-earning musician of 2008
| Entertainment
|
Friday the 13th looks to top long weekend
| Entertainment
|
Eminem's Bottle breaks download record
| Entertainment
|
Short movies make big Oscar splash
| Entertainment
|
Indonesia to extradite pedophile suspects
Da Vinci Code author sees secret revealed
| Entertainment
|
Suspect charged in deadly Australian fire
Andre Rieu, king of waltz, fiddles his way to stardom
| Entertainment
|
Australia arrests arson suspect after deadly fires
Hollywood eyes more play dates with toy industry
| Entertainment
|
Report: Man charged with arson in Australia fire
Slumdog turns spotlight on Mumbai's biggest slum
| Entertainment
|
North Korea reportedly assembling longest-range missile
Chinese police arrest 17 in drug trafficking bust
More civilians flee war zone as Sri Lanka snubs Britain
Army creates new 'safe zone' in Sri Lankan war
Call for calm as Australia hit by more shark attacks
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Surfer injured in second Sydney shark attack
Cigarettes still burning holes in Austrian ban
Protectionism 'absolute evil', says Japanese minister
Serbia's Roma fight poverty with education
Seoul shares end up 1 pct; techs, autos rise
"Dreamgirl" Hudson dominates NAACP Image awards
Dell awards technology education grants in India, Brazil and Mexico
Estelle Bennett, member of The Ronettes, dies
New Zealand house, retail sales slow
Short movies make big Oscar splash
Telecom 1st half profit down 60 pct
Andre Rieu, "king of waltz," fiddles his way to stardom
Taiwan dollar barely changed, mkt wary over c.bank
Spain's Adria unveils food of tomorrow
Nissan reviewing alliance plans with Chrysler
Dada and surrealist masterpieces make US stop
"Friday the 13th" looks to top long weekend
Korea Hot Stocks
1 worker's struggle for a factory job in China
Powerful earthquake hits Indonesia, 42 injured
Seoul shares open flat; Hana falls after results
Female bomber kills 32 on Iraqi pilgrimage route
| International
|
Obama's dream of bipartisanship takes hit
U.S. offers Moscow concession on missile shield
| International
|
Iraq suicide bomber kills dozens of Shiite pilgrims
Eurozone recession 'deepens with record GDP drop'
Female bomber kills 32 on Iraqi pilgrimage route
Algeria twin bombings kill seven: APS news agency
| International
|
Jennifer Hudson Wins Three Gongs At The NAACP Image Awards
Turkish army reportedly kills 13 rebels in north Iraq
Russia says deal near on UN monitors in Georgia
| International
|
Britney Spears' Paparazzo Ex-Lover Adnan Ghalib Under Investigation For Trying To Run Over A Man With His Car
India welcomes Pakistan probe, wants terror camps shut
| International
|
Hu launches China's largest gift to West Africa
| International
|
Tibet's religious life still bruised by Lhasa riots
| International
|
Telecom industry faces moment of truth
| Technology
|
Kenya, Turkey, Japan lead mobile money trend
| Technology
|
Nokia, others target mobile software sales
| Technology
|
Nokia, others target mobile software sales
Telecom industry faces moment of truth
Nokia extends "Comes with Music" phone lineup
Chicago Condo Developers Auction Units To Reduce Inventory
Los Angeles Eyes New Gun Control Law
One Of Nation's Largest Magazine Distributors Closes Doors, Lays Off Undisclosed Number Of Employees
Nokia, others rush for mobile software sales
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Warns Of Up To 25 Percent Fare Hike
Nokia extends "Comes with Music" phone lineup
Public Utility TVA Slashes Electric Rates For 9 Million Customers, Also Suspends Executive Bonuses
President Offers Condolences To Victims Of Continental Plane Crash
Pelosi, Reid Formally Invite Obama To Speak Before Feb. 24 Joint Session
Housing Crisis Resulting In 1 Vacant House For Every 9 In The U.S
Bush To Give First Post-White House Speech In Canada
Intelligence Chief Identifies Global Economic Crisis As Top Threat To U.S.
Pakistan presses India over Mumbai investigation
Duds outweigh discoveries at Berlin film festival
| Entertainment
|
Myanmar extends detention of opposition leader
India welcomes Pakistan prob
Thai PM: Myanmar migrants were sent back to sea
Australia debates controlled burns
Report: 2 sentenced to death in India drain murder
Suspect charged in deadly Australian fire
Japan, Sweden hold bailout lessons for US
Dung is key to tracking elusive Cambodian tiger
Nissan, Chrysler 'put joint projects on hold'
Malaysian government faces critical by-elections
Pakistan says economic problems easing
Pakistani stocks rise 4.2 pct on accounting waiver
Love among the stars: Celebs share Valentine plans
Japan, Sweden hold bailout lessons for US
Duds outweigh discoveries at Berlin film festival
Scorsese plans film on early Japanese Christians
Pakistan economic problems easing, says PM adviser
HK stock index climbs over 2 percent
Japan economy seen shrinking at 10 pct pace in 4Q
Air France reports heavy loss, reduces staff
G7 finance chiefs meet in Rome amid recession storm
Former rebel gunned down in Indonesia's Aceh
Octuplets' Doctor Has Another Patient In Her 40s Expecting Quadruplets
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights