Maria’s Grotto and Fatenah | Sunday May 16th
Focus on Women:
Fatenah, director: Ahmad Habash
30 min, 2009, Palestine
“Fatenah” is first Palestinian Animated 3D short film. Inspired from a true story. “Fatenah”, a Palestinian woman who lives in Gaza Strip. Her simple wishes were her consolation in the absurd living situation around her. But when she discovers a lump near her breast, she will start a journey to save her dreams.
Maria’s Grotto, director: Buthina Khoury
52 min, 2007, Palestine
A gripping portrait of women, whose lives were dictated by a moral code, Maria’s Grotto is a painfully true film about the issue of honor killings in Palestine. Khoury explores the issue through the stories of four women:
one is wrongly accused of dishonoring her family and murdered; the second· dies after being forced by her brothers to swallow poison; the third· survives repeated stabbing inflicted by her brother; the fourth is a· Hip-hop singer who dares speak out about honor killings, and faces death· threats. Through these stories, Khoury exposes the magnitude of honor··· marriage, the punishment for the presumed sin is death, to avenge ones· honor. killings in Palestine. Honor killings, are a facet of the Arab world that have become more prevalent in society. The presumed sin committed is one that involves being in a sexual relationship without the veil o fmarriage, the punishment for the presumed sin is death, to avenge ones honor.
[...] Grotto (52 min.), will explore the lives of two different Palestinian women; you can view trailers here. The Rice Media Center is located at 6100 Main St. (map); look for Entrance #8 on the Rice [...]