82 mins
Erika Cohn
Documentary
2017 - Palestine, USA

Screening with:
Your Father was Born a 100 Years Old, and so was the Nakba

No one took a young female lawyer seriously when she walked into the office of Palestine’s Chief Justice and announced she wanted to join the bench. But a few years later, Kholoud Al-Faqih became the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a (Islamic law) courts. This documentary offers a unique portrait of Judge Al-Faqih —her brave journey as a lawyer, her tireless fight for justice for women, and her drop-in visits with clients, friends, and family. With unparalleled access to the courts, the film presents an unfolding vérité legal drama, with rare insight into both Islamic law and gendered justice. In the process, the film illuminates some of the universal conflicts in the domestic life of Palestine—custody of children, divorce, abuse—while offering an unvarnished look at life for women and Shari’a.

Q&A to follow with director Erika Cohn (via Skype)

Co-presenters:

Arab Community Centre of Toronto
The Professional Canadian Arab Network (PCAN)
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)