Documentary
Fire Eyes
Soraya Mire · 1994
Synopsis
A documentary devoted to excision and female genital mutilation, practised above all in Africa. The film examines the social, economic, psychological and medical consequences of this ancient custom, which affects more than eighty million women; it presents it as a means of controlling women's sexuality and freedom, and relates it to other forms of oppression of women around the world.
Context
Directed, written and produced by the filmmaker, the film, some sixty minutes long, was selected in 1994 by the Utah independent film festival. Distributed on cassette then online by Filmakers Library, it was shown in 1996 at the fourth international symposium on sexual mutilations, at the University of Lausanne. An MIT mailing list recommended it as an African alternative to Alice Walker's Warrior Marks, of rawer workmanship.
Who it is for
For understanding a practice and the fight of the women who denounce it; the film is in English and has no known French version.
Prizes and reception
In the documentary competition at the Sundance festival, it was nominated for the grand jury prize, won by Freedom on My Mind.
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