Under One Sky: Arab Women in North America Talk about the Hijab 2000
Distributed by Films for the Humanities and Sciences, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, N.J. 08453-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada
Directed by Jennifer Kawaji
VHS, color, 44 min.
High School - Adult
Women's Studies, History, Anthropology, Multicultural Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Charles Burkart, Head, Audiovisual Library, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WVConfused in popular western imagination with the piece of silk cloth covering a woman's face (except for the eyes), the hijab or veil is actually a scarf covering a woman's hair. Far from being a simple symbol of religious observance, the hijab is a complex symbol of Middle Eastern womanhood. Stereotyping women who wear the hijab as religious conservatives is to miss the complexity of expression the veil represents, which can be cultural, religious, historical or socioeconomic.
Against this complex historical and cultural backdrop, Canadian Muslim women discuss the ideologies and meaning of the hijab in the National Film Board of Canada's Under One Sky.
Historically, in popular Western culture, the veil is an example of "Orientalism," where scantily clad, veiled, captive Harem girls waited to be rescued by Foreign Legionaries or other brawny Westerners. Recently, during the Gulf War, veiled Arab women were presented as marginalized, exploited victims of uncivilized governments. The changing symbolism of the hijab is used by both Arab and Western Governments for political purposes. While to many modern Muslim women living in the West, the hijab has become a symbol of ethnic identity and resistance to racism.
As might be expected from the National Film Board of Canada, Under One Sky, is a high quality, superbly produced video. The sound is clear and undistorted. Black and white archival films with commentary are seamlessly juxtaposed with color interviews with academic women scholars. Great varieties of locations are also used in the video. Multiple camera angles, measured pacing and vivid color make this video an informative and entertaining documentary.
While Under One Sky does not avoid political controversy, it does present a multitude of opinions about the hijab. With the banning of the hijab in some schools in France, this documentary seems very relevant in our increasing diverse society. Under One Sky could be used in women's studies, history, anthropology and other college level curriculum. It is highly recommended.