Community

In the Satkhira region of Bangladesh, a father brushes his daughter's hair to ready her for school. To the American mind, this hardly seems like a revolutionary act. But this gesture is a symbol of social and economic transformation taking place in Bangladesh, according to Community. In the past, Islamic fundamentalism dictated that wives submit entirely to their husbands--requiring them to ask permission to leave the house or eat (and to solely care for children). But a loan and training program called Uttaran (funded by Oxfam America) enabled women to form work cooperatives that mill rice or mold roof tiles, putting money in their pockets for the first time. Male protest naturally ensued; but then the men were encouraged to form co-op businesses too. Now husband and wife share workloads, which has led to increased income and higher standards of living. Community is meant as a showcase, not a documentary. The video gives swift and upbeat treatment to a case study in global gender and economic equity, but one wishes the complexities of the transition from patriarchy to egalitarianism had been more thoroughly explored. Still, for the price of a TNT candied cartoon, why not? Recommended. (A. Laker)