There are an inestimable amount of obstacles to living in peace under an oppressive movement, as Zainab Entezar demonstrates in Shot the Voice of Freedom. This documentary, shot entirely on a cellphone due to the dangers of filming openly, shows the painful realities of what happened to women and girls living in Afghanistan after US troops withdrew in 2021.
The film is about the activist movements pushing back on the oppression of girls and women by the Taliban, who have taken away their freedom, safety, and right to be educated. Entezar focuses on the protest efforts of one particular activist, Rishmin Joyanda, and her sister, Nastaran, from the fall of 2021 into February 2022. Their commitment to showing (and shouting) the truth to the world is highly risky and courageous.
The director, for her part, wastes little time with preamble. Within five minutes, viewers are watching Rishmin and others prepare to protest. Right away, caution is voiced by Rishmin over her fear of Entezar’s camera being spotted. This film is a masterclass in anonymity while protesting, as Rishmin explains that safety in hiding your identity, via wearing a mask, hiding your signs, and other means, is paramount to saving yourself from harassment, kidnapping, or worse.
The protests are intermingled with conversations between Rishmin and Nastaran and their family among others. Their testimonials are heartbreaking, and offer insight into the suffering they’ve had to endure. Rishmin describes a disturbing cause and effect whereby “…closing girls schools would lead to family violence, forced marriage, so that poverty and underage marriage would increase.” Their objectives in protesting are to obtain the basic freedoms of feeling safe and their right to be educated.
Near the end of the film is a stirring scene of Rishmin and other women shielding their faces with handwritten signs in English and Arabic that read, among other things, “Afghanistan is the nest of terrorists”, with a final touch of “bloody” handprints of an infant girl. The all too real dangers of these protest result in Rishmin and her family, as well as Entezar, having to leave Afghanistan, bringing filming to an abrupt close.
With this film, director Zainab Entezar achieves a wakeup call to the world, and it’s impossible to look away or leave unaffected. 5 stars. Would recommend. Viewers should be prepared for the raw footage of Taliban confrontations at the women’s protests. It is also worth noting that the translated spelling of Rishmin’s name is inconsistent between the subtitles, title cards, and other places where her name is mentioned.
Would public libraries would benefit from screening Shot the Voice of Freedom?
This documentary would stand out as an excellent piece of library programming, particularly during International Women’s Month, as both a community screener and part of a DVD collection. Its call to action would inspire and motivate patrons to search for ways to help and bring awareness to this ongoing struggle. Individuals and community activist groups alike could have a “watch and discuss” event and brainstorm ways to help, whether by writing letters or getting more eyes on the film. Due to its upsetting elements and danger-filled moments, this film is best suited for audiences aged young adult and above.
Which academic subjects would this documentary best fit into for in-class discussions and projects?
Given its wide range of applicable assignment and discussion material, Shot the Voice of Freedom is an insight-rich asset for academic librarians. Apart from student-led projects, this film would benefit university-level and above courses that pertain to, among other subjects, activism, human rights, politics, feminism, women’s rights, and femicide through teaching with film. In-depth discussions of the film can take place via traditional lectures and through individual and group assignments. On a wider scale, the film could also be used to touch on human rights sub-topics such as amnesty, refugee, and immigration in law and criminology studies courses.
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