HOTDOCS 2020: Fadma -Even Ants Have Wings
hot docsWhile the conversation surrounding movements like modern day feminism mostly tend to stick to their impact in major cities and well documented areas of society, the impact of these areas of social growth reach far beyond that. Fadma: Even Ants Have Wings looks to show this global impact by focusing on a group of women living in a small village in the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa. Empowered, not just by a powerful woman named Fadma but also the global push for gender equality, these women take a stand against their husbands, demanding a more fair workload and more respect.
The immediate thing to come to audiences' minds when watching the Fadma: Even Ants Have Wings is a flurry of questions. At no point does the film hold the audience's hands as it takes a fly on the wall approach of filmmaking, never concerning itself with giving context to the situation it is showing or introducing the characters. Because of this, the first act of the documentary can feel jarring and confusing as the audience is dropped in the middle of a culture that isn't fully understood with characters that audiences simply don't know. Where this initially works against the film, it is because of this choice that the filmmaking shines as much as it does.
As mentioned, the film wants to put the audiences into the situation being shown without forcing any narrative or ideas. In this sense, it is extremely passive both in voice and filmmaking. The cinematography from Ali Benjelloun is nearly stunning at times with how naturally yet cinematically it is able to shoot the film both feeling of quality while staying casual. This, alongside the direction given to the film from director Jawad Rhalib, is enough to open the door, allowing the audience to slowly step through and begin to transport themselves to this village and engage with the people who live there. The film slowly sneaks this onto the audience, pulling those watching in closer and closer without forcing any engagement.
Though the film naturally feels engaging in this sense, what makes it memorable is the larger, more universal conversation surrounding female empowerment, which this film adds a unique and important voice to. Through a more focused story of these women fighting for their rights, the film naturally finds itself showcasing not just how important the female empowerment movement is on a global level but the practical struggle that women face when trying to claim their rights. Even in a small village in Northern Africa, the cries for equality and respect have been heard, and to see women find inspiration in this movement is ultimately validating. This shows that movement has been made, and that even if the battle is ongoing, the movement is having real world results on a global level. Yet it also shows that this hasn't made the path easy; as these women confront their husbands, they get thrown multiple excuses that are meant to break their spirits and reinforce the standards the women are fighting against. While genuinely frustrating, it also serves as a powerful reminder that behind the call for equality remains a long and often painful process of actually breaking social norms that can be complex and angering.
On the outside, Fadma: Even Ants Have Wings seems to be a smaller story of women fighting for equality, but on the inside, the film finds a definitive voice that adds an important perspective to a much larger conversation. It is a film that slowly sneaks up on audiences with its message and captivating personality, which raises the film to being an important and rewarding viewing experience that is absolutely worth checking out for anyone who gets a chance to.
