This is a little gem I’ve found on
the Frontline Club website: Casablanca Calling, a documentary about women
leading a quiet revolution in Morocco. I love this story because it shows strong women taking control and making changes in their own terms. They are neither following Western dreams nor accepting their country's repressive views of Islam. It reminds me of the Queen Mothers of Ghana, who are reinventing their traditional roles to improve the lives of girls and women in their communities. I am going to Ghana in June with filmmaker Dominique Chadwick to report on that story.
Casablanca Calling, by documentary
filmmaker Rosa Rogers and triple BAFTA winning producer Hilary Durman takes us
into the heart of this quiet social revolution in Morocco through the lives of the women
at its forefront. It is the
story of a society in transition and a mission to educate a nation.
In a country where 60% of women have never been to
school, a new generation of women have started working as official Muslim leaders
or Morchidat. The Morchidat, the world’s
first female Muslim leaders, are setting out to change their country: empowering women through the
teachings of Islam and challenging the attitudes which breed extremism.
They work in some of the poorest communities in Morocco to separate the true
teachings of Islam from
some of the prejudices emanating from a largely conservative culture. They work
to support education for girls and campaign against early marriages. And they encourage young people to build a
more progressive Morocco, as opposed to pursuing the agenda that many young
people in the country do, which is aspiring to a life in the West.
Through personal stories, family
dramas and everyday lives, Casablanca Calling gives a unique perspective on
women’s lives in contemporary Morocco. It tells the story of committed people,
social change and a sacred mission.
The film will be presented at theFrontline Club on Friday 30
January 2015 at 7:00 PM. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Rosa Rogers and producer Hilary Durman.
Dear Veronique,
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog about Casablanca Calling and wanted to send an email to thank you for your interest and kind words about the film! It’s a film that we made because we hoped it would help to open up a different view about Islam in the West and also to shine a light on the issues being faced by many girls and women in Morocco and how a committed group of women are trying to make things better. When people spread the word through blogs such as yours it makes a huge difference to know that it is having some kind of impact.
Thank you for your support and I’m very happy to have come across your blog - lots of interesting links!!
If you are interested in updates on the film Casablanca Calling (and other films) I have just started a Twitter account to post updates etc @rosarogersfilm There’s also a Facebook page for Casablanca Calling www.facebook.com/casablancacalling
With warm wishes,
Rosa