Last night I saw the documentary, Girl Rising. Since, on average, I see about one movie a year in the theater, this was quite significant--and more so because showings are few and far between. I choose my movies carefully (especially the ones I pay $10 for), but this one was worth every penny. (A BIG thanks to my friend, Kimber, for telling me about it.)
The documentary tells the true story of nine girls from different countries around the world, who for different reasons face extreme opposition when it comes to their education, freedom, and safety. Seven of the nine girls portray themselves in the film, which makes it extremely powerful. Two were portrayed by actors because these girls literally risked their lives to tell their stories and would certainly be killed if their identities were revealed.
Initially, I was worried about seeing this film because it is rated PG-13 for disturbing material. I usually avoid disturbing stuff, and, in the past, I've regretted seeing movies, like Slumdog Millionaire. (That one was even edited when I saw it, and I still couldn't handle it.) I'm just a sensitive person.
But this movie was inspiring! Even though the stories were filled with tragedy, they also rang with hope. And the very disturbing parts of their stories were told delicately and appropriately. If this is the rating spectrum, I would put the movie here:
G PG PG-13 R
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I was very happy that the film makers chose to make the movie the way they did instead of graphically showing the tragic circumstances of these girls' lives. This way, it opens the opportunity for more (and younger) girls to see the film than it would have otherwise.
It is a movie that will stay with me. I just keep thinking about these girls. And they are real.
Ruksana lives on the streets of India--on the pavement under a tent-- but, amazingly, has a loving, intact family. Her parents are sacrificing everything they have to put their three girls through school. It's a dangerous place to live, so sometimes she has to stay in a shelter to protect herself from thugs.
Senna lives in a gold-mining town called La Rinconada on the cliffs in Peru and has probably never seen a tree in her life. It is the highest inhabited city in the world, and the conditions are terrible. But, even after her father dies, she chooses to stay in school and protect herself from anything that could lead her to working in a brothel. She is courageous and virtuous, and she knows her strength. And I have to admit, I felt just awful sitting there, watching her story, with a gold ring on my finger. Oh, the problems in our world.
Suma, from Nepal, was bonded into slavery as a six-year-old. She worked from 4 am until late at night, was beaten, and denied education. As I watched, my heart ached. Although bonded labor was made illegal in 2000 in Nepal, only recently has it begun to stop. Suma was rescued by a man who convinced her master to let him teach her to read and write. They started a night school, and eventually one of her other female teachers demanded that her master let her go. He didn't at first, but this teacher came back day after day to argue with him about the law. And eventually, he let her go. Now Suma is free, and she works to free other girls who are still illegally held as slaves.
Wadley, a darling, imaginative girl, lost everything except her mother after the earthquake in Haiti. She feels her life must be important since it was spared, but there is no money for school, and she longs to be there. So she just goes. And when the teacher says she has to leave, she doesn't. She stands up and says she will keep coming back until she lets her stay. And so the teacher lets her stay.
Most of all, I keep thinking about the girl (her true name wasn't revealed) from Afghanistan, who was forced into an arranged marriage by her parents at eleven years old. She had lived in a part of the country where the Taliban did not have a strong grip, so she learned to read and write as a young girl. But her education stopped when she was married. With the money her parents got from the arrangement, they bought a used car for their son. I didn't want to believe it. Any of it! She immediately got pregnant--at eleven years old. And, surprisingly, she didn't die in childbirth-- which according to the movie is the number one cause of death for girls ages 15-18 world wide. As she tells her story her words are powerful. She says that even though she was born into a place where she is treated like a slave, she will rise up and be the change for her country. I only hope this is true.
The stories of these girls were humbling. I've always known I was privileged, but it's so easy to focus on what you don't have instead of what you have. As I snuggled under the warm covers in bed last night, holding an expensive down pillow--I just felt spoiled, in an unjust way. I have large, comfortable, carpeted, safe place to live--900 square feet for a mere three people. I have been protected from sexual abuse and assault. I have a college education. I have never gone hungry, except by choice. I have never had to wonder if I was going to die. I have enjoyed freedom my whole life. I have so much.
So now what to do? The only problem I have with movies like these is that I'm all too aware that watching them does nothing. The world will only change if we act.
I'm going to start by giving more freely to others around me. I'm going to cherish and use my education. I'm going to help my son recognize and appreciate his education, safety, and freedom. And I'm going to teach him to respect and honor women. Eventually I hope to raise more children-- to all be strong and courageous in defending truth and goodness. And I will love not only the children who are not mine, but all children. I believe that all adults carry the weight of responsibility to protect all children--boys equally as girls. And I will think more deeply about this talk, which addresses many of these issues.
I think movies like these will help the world if they motivate each of us to do better in our sphere of influence and to give to organizations that are honest and effective.