Jamilia

Jamilia (2018) is a documentary about Kyrgyz women today by Aminatou Echard. The title is based on the heroine of a classic Kyrgyz novel about a young woman who, having been forced to marry, who then fled with her lover. Fifty years later, the director meets several generations of Kyrgyz women, resulting in portraits reflecting both the novel's protagonist. The film was shot with Super 8 and the recording was done separately in a way that felt disconnected to me. There were some compelling stories, but I don't think the images were very compelling or interesting to see. I have been to Kyrgyzstan twice previously and plan to visit again for a volunteer conference piqued my interest in the film. The fact that bride kidnapping was a social custom for so long there makes this a potentially explosive topic, but it never goes there. It only recounts these women's stories.