A Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers is part of the Women, War, and Peace documentary series. The opening sequence of powerful headline images in history sets the tone for this film. It screams empowerment, strength, and perseverance by women. This is a story of 2 women from Bangladesh, a nation set in deep culture and religion.
We meet Farida Parveen, an assistant sub-inspector while on duty, and then we cut to her home life, dressed down and ready to take on family duties. She talks of the opposition by her father, who was also a policeman with a tragic story, to join the police force.
We are also introduced to Mousumi Sultana, another sub-inspector who was raised around abuse from a young age. We meet her mother who is happy that she has a job, and we are pleasantly surprised to learn that Mousumi is married to a police officer who believes that couples must both work to make a living. We learn that female officers will deal with violent abuse cases against women, and she takes us along to a crisis center where a badly burned woman is looking for help and emergency treatment.
What brings these two ladies together is special training for a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti. The mission is long and we see how differently both families react to the news. One husband is not pleased and is not comfortable being left with the kids, while the other is worried but proud of his wife.
They leave for Haiti and land amongst riots. What is interesting to note is that the Bangladeshi team is made up of only women and they are meant to square it out with men protesting on the streets. Mousumi, Farida, and their colleagues are tasked with patrolling the settlement camps at night. Throughout their mission, they witness death, chaos, and political unrest, but the ladies are more worried about their families back in Bangladesh.
After their heroic mission, they are met with minimal fanfare upon their arrival. You can see how fast they shed their official demeanor for their family roles, which are not without their conflicts.
A Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers shows us that women can overcome extreme adversity. Juggling family, culture, religion and work is no easy feat and these two ladies are a small representation of what millions of women go through worldwide.
Which subject can this film's content be more favorable for?
The story is about two women in a Muslim nation who defy societal expectations by pursuing a career. Not only that, they show immense strength and discipline in their line of work. This educational documentary is suitable for Women’s Studies, Culture, Conflict & Resolution, and Social studies courses.
What film collection would this film be suitable for?
A Journey Of A Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers is perfect for documentary collections, particularly in Women's Studies or other titles with social and political impact. It is a real and raw story of what women still go through in the 21st century to have more rights while still holding down their families.
Does this film have Public Performance Rights available?
This documentary has Public Performance Rights available starting at $299. You can choose the digital file with performance rights or a streaming license. This is ideal for organizations and institutions.