RIYADH - Saudi Arabia is being represented in the Tunisia-based Carthage Film Festival by Haifa Al-Mansur's "Nisa bila Zilal" (Women without Shadows) and Abdullah Al-Mohaysen's "Zilal Al-Somt" (Shadow of Silence), the daily Al-Watan reported yesterday. The 50-minute documentary "Nisa bila Zilal," which was produced in Abu Dhabi last year, highlights the various problems faced by women in Saudi society.
The film also stresses the role social customs play in worsening the plight of Saudi women, particularly the difficulties of working women mixing with the opposite gender, the wearing of niqab and issues related to marriage.
The film was first presented at the house of the French consul general in Jeddah last year.
Al-Mansur's demand for more freedom for women put her on a collision course with hardliners.
She was awarded the Al-Khanjar Golden Award for best documentary at the Muscat Film Festival in the Sultanate of Oman last year.
In 2004, her 51-minute "Ana Wal Akhar" documentary received awards at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival in Holland and later at the Emirates Film Competition for best scenario. She has also been closely associated with the direction of the award-winning film "Kaif Al-Hal."
Haifa drew international attention in 2003 with her first documentary "Mein?" Born in a family with literary tradition in the Eastern Province she completed her education at the American University in Cairo in 1997.
Abdullah Al-Mohaysen's "Zilal Al-Somt," focuses on the failures and frustrations of the Arab world in modern times. The film also makes an attempt to discover the reasons behind the current state of the Arab world.
The film was featured in international film festivals in Rome, Cannes and Rotterdam over the past couple of years.
© Arab News 2006
