Oscar Nominations Overlook Foreign Film that Highlights Honor Killing
February 4, 2011
by Denise Schultz
|The opinions expressed herein and those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
It’s awards season, and for many of us, that means watching the red carpet festivities and compiling our list of movies that we must see. Each year, with every nomination, it is also a reminder of what actors and films have been overlooked, and those who are not even allowed a seat at the table. This year is no exception.
One such film that was overlooked is Die Fremde or When We Leave. This is the first film from Director Feo Adalag, an Austrian-born filmmaker who now resides in Germany. This film is the official entry from Germany, for consideration in the Best Foreign Film category at the 83rd Academy Awards. It seems to me that perhaps the subject matter of the film has kept it from gaining wider coverage here in the U.S.
In a recent interview with NPR, the film is described:
Discrimination against Germany’s largest ethnic minority, 2.7 million people of Turkish descent, is just the backdrop for When We Leave. The movie focuses on a young woman, Umay, who leaves a suffocating marriage in Turkey, and flees with young son Cem to her family in Berlin. Her parents and siblings are not supportive and even assist Umay’s husband in an attempt to kidnap Cem. Ultimately, Umay’s father and brothers are pressured to cleanse their reputations by slaying the defiant woman.
Honor Killings, like most violence against women, are not something that people want to acknowledge or discuss. Honor Killings, by definition, are the murders of women who have brought supposed shame to their families. Men of those families seek to “restore honor” by killing the woman in question. It could be that her husband has left her and that in and of
itself brings shame to the family. In other scenarios, there are accusations of adultery, or in more rare circumstances, the woman leaves her husband. In many parts of the world, Honor Killings are tradition, and often overlooked by the court systems and seldom punished.
The best way to shed light on the terrorized lifestyle that these abandoned women face is to get their stories out in the media. When We Leave does just that. The film is a critical success all over Europe, garnering many awards over the past several months. While the Academy has only 5 nominations for Best Foreign Film, this film certainly seems worthy. The power that the Academy holds to bring issues to light is enormous. Honor Killings are a subject that needs much discussion here in the “West”. When We Leave opened last week in New York and Los Angeles, and I hope you have the chance to check it out.
Thanks Denise. I think few understand the travesty of honor killings. And sadly, increasingly these are happening on our shores. Thanks for highlighting this film.
And of course, with only one woman ever winning for best director, who can expect the ACADEMY to think positively of any film that addresses women’s concerns?
Thanks for writing this piece and giving a voice to this topic. It’s unbelievable that the Academy did not recognize what appears to be a well made movie (I have not seen it) on a relevant topic.
I had never heard of this movie till today so I really appreciate this article and what it means about our own culture as well.
The Academy is far too worried about looking like xenophobes to nominate a movie such as this. The Academy surely would like to simply turn their gaze in another direction and speak vaguely of honoring other “traditions”.
Thank you Amy and Denise for giving this important film some publicity which in light of recent events in Muslim countries, is more important now than ever. The liberal left is tone death to the suffing of women in Islamic countries. I cannot wait to see this film, hopefully in a theater soon.
This film looks really wonderful. Thank you for putting a spotlight on this issue Denise. Honor killings are a significant issue in Germany but also around the world. Its not enough to punish the perpetrators of honor killings. For me, the question is how do we prevent them from happening? What services are there for women fleeing this form of domestic violence?
Kristen there is too little in services and they the little is being reduced. in my county in Maryland the single house run by the county for battered women, takes them in for several months and then they have to graduate out. currently counseling as well as homework support for the children is being cut.
I missed the movie when the Goethe institute run it. But I saw it will be on Netflix soon.
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