Khadija Magardie review OFTHEWEEK It is often the case that the progressiveness of a society may be measured by the position of its women. This is even more so in the one facet of society that transcends geographical boundaries – religion.
It was no doubt with this in mind that the local chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace commissioned a documentary about the lives of the women attached to the mosques, temples, churches and synagogues. The multi-talented team at Curious Pictures have come up with another beautifully made film. The documentary The Other Voices – due to be officially launched later this month – is visually enchanting. Religious icons, coupled with the rituals that accompany their worship, are always winning subjects for photographers and film-makers. The music, as well as the cut-away shots of nature, certainly portray religious belief as a unifying part of human life. What is also reassuring of the film, if not ironically, is that it illustrates clearly how gender discrimination is not the domain of any single faith. Unfortunately, the notion of an inclusive discrimination is what eventually muddies the waters. The film raises far more questions than it is able to answer – and departs so radically from its stated premise, that at the end, the viewer is left feeling they have sat through a rather tedious history lesson on the voluminous subject of patriarchy. At the beginning, the film asks a critical question: “Does the fact that men have larger power domains in religious life contribute to the pandemic of violence against women in South Africa?” A question it does not appear to answer. The film-makers could argue that they never intended to, but instead to allow the “other voices” to speak for themselves. This may be so, but it would be expected that the film would go straight for the jugular, namely the manner in which the actual religious texts may sanction gender- based violence. With the exception of the Muslim insert, which comes just before the end of the film, this is never adequately addressed. Interspersed with shots of wedding ceremonies, and women frolicking in the waves of the Indian Ocean, the synchrony of the film is less than apparent, even confusing, as it jumps from explaining one gender-unfriendly religious custom (like the ban on menstruating women from praying) to another. Though this may be useful in illustrating how religions have come to treat women as second class citizens, one cannot simply attribute the larger power domains of men (as the film calls it) to custom. It would have been interesting, for instance, to explain why women are excluded from positions of authority or leadership in some religious communities. Beyond passing mention by an interviewee, this never comes up. If the merit of the film lies in it giving a voice to the lives of women who “endure” religion, then the film hits the mark. It contains moving testimonies from many women, including renowned gender-activist Anu Padyachee, and contains a first-time biography of the life of the late Shamima Shaik, hailed as the country’s first Muslim feminist. Padyachee’s testimony saves the film, at last asking the critical question, namely of how men may call on their religion to justify hurting women. It also begged a greater question – whether religion played any role, generally, in influencing men’s perceptions of women they are abusive towards. Failure to do so would be assuming that a man who abuses a woman even has a religious life. The documentary is recommended for anyone interested in the evolution of religion over the centuries and how it sees women. But in terms of the main question on the minds of anyone who cares about gender- based violence – namely, “What makes him do it”? – the film is unfortunately, disappointing.
The Other Voices will be launched at the International Film Festival in Durban on October 18 and at the Goethe Institute in Johannesburg on October 25. It will be screened on SABC3 on November 19 at 4pm and 11pm. For enquiries Tel: (011) 622E7695