Trailer of Story of Burqa : Case of a Confused Afghan ( Brishkay Ahmed , Canada , 2012 , 70 mins ). View the entire film at
Culture Unplugged .
Q : The following scene is animated and features a woman with a birdcage on her head , which , without giving too much away , we return to at the end of the film . Why did you use animation in the film ?
burqa isn ’ t Islamic , and secondly , that it ’ s a powerful political tool . When a woman wears a headscarf , she ’ s not limited . She can be a judge , a member of parliament , or a homemaker if she so chooses .
A : The animation is important to me because I want young girls to be interested . I want to reach beyond the intellectual audience who knows documentary film or who understands the broader issues . This is an important subject and should reach a diverse audience ; educated and uneducated , young and old .
But I do believe that the power to change that kind of oppression is the responsibility of women . It ’ s up to us to make sure we shut that cage door and aren ’ t shoved back in .
Q : The subtitle of your film is “ Case of a Confused Afghan .” What questions did you hope the film would answer ?
A : Most importantly , I wanted to show that the
When her face and hands are covered and she ’ s wearing a double layer and can barely hear anything , she is rendered invisible .
A true understanding of the burqa and its history is critical . A great number of people in the world have accepted the fact that the hands and faces of their daughters , sisters , and mothers should be covered .
In some cases women are not allowed to leave their homes . [ Referring to the recent controversy in Canada ] I have no problem with a woman taking her oath with her face covered , if it is indeed her personal choice .
When I stayed in a women ’ s shelter in Afghanistan , I never met a woman , there or in Kabul , generally , who said they liked the burqa . At any opportunity ,
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