The second collection of the documentaries under the project Gender montage has been produced and demonstrated on March 1-9, 2006 in international festival „One World” in Prague. The collection consists of seven documentary films from seven countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The films address some of the most acute problems in each post-Soviet country: women’s human rights violations, the impact of institutionalized and ingrained inequality, and the effects of gender stereotyping. A special event was organised at Women Correction House in Panevezys for 170 imprisoned women with the show of two documentary movies from the collection, discussion, books charity campaign and consultations of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman.
Partners: Klaipeda, Siauliai and Kaunas Universities, Panevezys Educational Center, Women NGO in Shirvintai.
The following films were shown at the mentioned events:
Ironic film directed by Estonia’s Jaak Kilmi and Andres Maimik, Beauty of the Motherland, the main characters of which are the former producer of the Misis Estonia beauty pageants, the other leader of the children’s’ national movement emphasise different values, though having the same aspirations, corresponding the needs of the patriarchal society.
The film directed by Azerbaijani director Ali Isa Djabarov entitled Wishing 7 sons and one daughter, revealing cruel laws of the patriarchal family where only boys are expected to be born.
The film by the Georgian director Liana Jakeli entitled Invisible narrates the story of girls in the Azerbaijani community, that upon turning 14-15 years must leave school. The general belief is that they need no educations as the most important thing is to get her married before her beauty faded away.
Mongolian director Urantchimeg Nansalma tells us in his film entitled Silk Patterns that in Mongolia as many as 80 pro cent of students are girls. However, diploma of higher education is hardly of any help to them in finding a job. They must try their fortune elsewhere and do the most menial jobs.
Uzbek director Furkatbek Jakvalchodjijev’s film entitled Hack Workers narrates of fates of women outcast from the family and the society. He relates that women, ousted from homes and trying to survive, accept slavery and even forced prostitution.
Heroines of the Live Containers, a film directed by Tadjik director Orzu Sharipov, are women that risk their lives to save their families from starvation and transport heroine inside them, as live containers. This is how they most often find their way into prison.
More information about the project: