Category Archives: Art

“Jilbab: A Documentary on the Indonesian Woman’s Headscarf”

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Film Info: “Jilbab: A Documentary on the Indonesian Woman’s Headscarf”.  Directed by Jenn Lindsay, 2011.  Various lengths, from a focused 20 minute version to a more complex, 50 minute version.

Distributor: Jenn Lindsay (www.jennlindsay.com)  Downloadable preview posted on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/31991952

Film Summary: In Jogjakarta, Indonesia, the Muslim women’s headscarf is distinctively colorful, fashionable, fun and expressive. What are the dreams and commitments behind the choice to veil or not to veil?  JILBAB, a documentary named after the Indonesian word for the Muslim hijab, is about veiling trends for women in the city of “Jogja.” It features students from Universitas Gadjah Madah, designers of local women’s fashion boutiques,and Muslim women from outside of Indonesia speaking about the significance of veiling (or not veiling), veiling ideology and fashion, and the history of veiling in Islam. This film explores uniquely Javanese Islam, its unmistakable religious aesthetics, and what the jilbab suggests in an Indonesian context as opposed to Middle Eastern, North American or European Muslim contexts.

“Laatoo: Dance and Spirituality in Pakistan”

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Film Info:  Laatoo: Dance and Spirituality in Pakistan” /« Laatoo : Danse et spiritualité au Pakistan »  English and Urdu with French subtitles. Directed by Alix Philippon and Faizaan Peerzada.  2003.  

Distributed by: Alix Philippon (Sciences Po, Aix-en-Provence, France).  There are various versions, ranging from 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter.  Contact the director for information.

Film Summary:  LAATOO is a documentary about the role of dance in Pakistan : from the classical Kathak,Bharanatyam and Odyssi to the sufi tradition of the dervish right up to the dances performed by prostitutes. The film uses scenes and interviews with great dancers such as Naheed Siddiqui, Sheema Kirmani, Tehreema Mitha, Indu Mitha and Fasi-ur-Rehman to help us locate Pakistani dance in its religious, philosophical, social, and political contexts.

LAATOO est un documentaire qui fait l’état des lieux de la danse au Pakistan : de la danse classique comme le khatak, le bharatanatyam et l’odissi, à la tradition soufie des derviches jusqu’aux danses pratiquées par les prostituées. C’est à travers les témoignages des grands danseurs classiques tels que Naheed Siddiqui, Sheema Kirmani, Tehreema Mitha, Indu Mitha et Fasi-ur-Rehman, que nous découvrons la danse et sa problématique dans son contexte religieux, philosophique, social et politique.