On Monday night at 8p.m. in the Heritage room, the Gustavus community will welcome film director Faiza Ambah for a showing of her film, Mariam.
Several groups on campus are co-sponsoring Ambah’s visit including the Muslim Students Association, the Diversity Center, the Chaplain’s Office, the Religion Department, and the French Department.
“It is dangerous and dehumanizing to sort the world into two categories – us versus them – regardless of which side you are on. This is what makes killing people easier.” – Faiza Ambah
Ambah is a New America NYC and Saudi filmmaker whose medium length film is about a veiled Muslim teenager in modern day France.
Mariam is forced to choose between removing her hijab or being expelled from school after a law is passed prohibiting religious symbols in public schools.
Mariam’s world debut was at the Dubai International Film Festival in December 2015 where it won the Special Jury Prize.
The film is about Mariam wearing the hijab but the underlying meaning is about the right to express yourself.
“We are individuals, not a series of clichés. It is dangerous and dehumanizing to sort the world into two categories – us versus them – regardless of which side you are on,” Ambah said. “This is what makes killing people easier.”
Ailya Vajid works as the Multifaith Advisor in the Chaplain’s Office and helped organize the event after hearing about the film from a colleague.
“We discussed the possibility of a screening on campus and then we found out that the director was actually going to be in Minnesota for a week so it seemed like the perfect opportunity,” Vajid said.
Sophomore and co-president of the Muslim Students Association Hanan Mohamud has not yet seen the movie.
“Since I myself am a hijabi I am curious to see if we have faced the same struggles,” Mohamud said. “Also, it is rare to see a film based on a female wearing the hijab, so I am excited to see that happen for once I am also hoping that maybe it is something that sticks around.”
There are many topics the film raises including Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in our modern world.
“Although the film takes place in France and addresses the issue of the 2004 French ban of religious symbols in public schools, and particularly how that affects Muslim girls in public schools, the topic is extremely relevant for our current socio-political climate in the United States,” Vajid said.
Diversity among Muslims in their beliefs and practices are portrayed in the film showing how Muslims around the world understand and practice their faith in different ways.
“The film does a good job at bringing out these issues through the narrative of a young woman. Storytelling is such a powerful and effective way of bringing a human side to important issues, and I think the film does a great job of doing just that,” Vajid said.
“Storytelling is such a powerful and effective way of bringing a human side to important issues, and I think the film does a great job of doing just that.” – Ailya Vajid
The Muslim Students Association seeks to educate both Muslims and the wider community campus about Islam.
“The hijab is associated with oppression and if students are sick and tired of being spoon fed incorrect information then this movie will definitely be a movie to dispel a lot of the negativity about the hijab and what it actually means,” Mohamud said.
There will be an opportunity for questions and discussions about the film and with the director after the screening.