Femi-cine: a screening on female pleasure

Five cultures, five women, one story are highlighted in Barbara Miller’s documentary to be shown in Nicosia this week. Wanting to feature cinema that focuses on women’s issues, Social Space Kaymakkin is hosting of screening of Miller’s award-winning documentary #Female Pleasure this Thursday.

The documentary portrays five courageous, smart and self-determined women, breaking the silence imposed by their archaic-patriarch societies and religious communities. With strength and positive energy, Deborah Feldman, Leyla Hussein, Rokudenashiko, Doris Wagner and Vithika Yadav are fighting for sexual liberation and autonomy for women beyond religious rules and cultural barriers. But their victory comes at a high price: they have all experienced public defamation, threats and prosecutions, have been excommunicated by the society they grew up in and even received death threats from religious leaders and fanatics.

#Female Pleasure shows the universal mechanisms at work that determine the position of women until today, spanning cultures, religions and continents: from Japan and India and the Somali Muslim diaspora to the Hasidic community in Brooklyn and the Catholic clergy in Europe. All protagonists have come to the same conclusion: the female body is subjected to male lust and first and foremost meant for procreation, without any regard for female sexual pleasure and autonomy.

Released in 2018, the documentary has won seven awards at film and documentary festivals around the world and praise for its portrayal of the remaining obstacles that stand in the way of female sexuality in the 21st century.

#Female Pleasure

Screening of award-winning documentary. April 8. Social Space Kaymakkin, Nicosia. 8.30pm. Free