Beyond Beijing

The 1995 UN 4th World Conference on Women, together with the associated Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations, took place in Beijing and was attended by over thirty thousand participants-the largest international assembly of women in history. In Beyond Beijing, filmmaker Shirini Heerah provides an emotional first-hand account of both her experiences and those of other participants, including the formal work of drafting and passing a detailed and forceful global agenda for the improvement of women's lives. Heerah's fondest attention, however, is lavished on the concurrently held NGO Forum-a panoply of spirited workshops, discussion groups, exhibits, and performances mounted by grassroots women's groups and geared to bringing global sisters together in a spirit of unity and action. The highlight of the Forum (and the true emotional and visual core of the video) is the weaving of an enormous, bright banner out of the cloth art sent from around the world by women who could not attend the conference. A section of the banner is later carried to the Great Wall by a Forum delegation and unfurled-an amazing and moving sight! Although a bit more detail and political analysis of the Conference itself would have strengthened the video, Beyond Beijing is an engaging and generally effective piece of filmmaking. And while one cannot help but wonder (somewhat cynically) about how effective the Conference Platform for Action will ultimately be as a catalyst for significant global political and economic change, the video leaves no doubt about the impact of the event on the individual lives of participants and on their resolve to carry the struggle for women's rights forward. Recommended for libraries interested in contemporary women's issues or international politics. Aud: H, C, P (G. Handman)