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Fire Eyes: Female Circumcision
| Length: | 60 min |
| Released: | 1995 |
| Ages: |
College Adult |
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This powerful and important film presents an African viewpoint on a culturally explosive issue. Somali filmmaker Soraya Mire knows firsthand about the traditional African practice of female genital mutilation. At 13 she was a victim of the procedure, and spent the next 20 years recovering physically and emotionally from its cruel legacy. Fire Eyes explores the socioeconomic, psychological, and medical consequences of this ancient custom which affects more than 80 million women worldwide.
In this film, several women who have undergone this rite of passage voice varying points of view on perpetuating the practice. While a few courageous women wish to spare their daughters this suffering, others fear their daughters would become unmarriageable. The film paints a picture of female circumcision as a women's ritual, upheld by mothers, grandmothers, and aunts to conform to the male expectation for a chaste wife.
Testimony from doctors details the various forms of female circumcision and the horrendous physical problems that result. Dr. Groesbeck Parham, who studied with a Sudanese doctor in Khartoum, shares his understanding of the conflicting views that fuel the debate over this ancient ritual.
In this film, several women who have undergone this rite of passage voice varying points of view on perpetuating the practice. While a few courageous women wish to spare their daughters this suffering, others fear their daughters would become unmarriageable. The film paints a picture of female circumcision as a women's ritual, upheld by mothers, grandmothers, and aunts to conform to the male expectation for a chaste wife.
Testimony from doctors details the various forms of female circumcision and the horrendous physical problems that result. Dr. Groesbeck Parham, who studied with a Sudanese doctor in Khartoum, shares his understanding of the conflicting views that fuel the debate over this ancient ritual.
"An unforgettable program."
‒Booklist
"A rare documentary that is equally effective as a personal and political statement."
‒Variety
"An uncompromising look into the once taboo subject."
‒New York Post
"One of the most controversial of such traditional practices is ‘female circumcision,’ known by other names including ‘female genital mutilation’ as well as by specific technical terms like excision or infibulation (depending on the exact operation performed). “Fire Eyes” is an impassioned and artistic presentation of the topic, featuring African women and men talking about their experiences and values, as well as poetic touches like modern dances and masks."
‒Jack David Eller, Anthropological Review
‒Booklist
"A rare documentary that is equally effective as a personal and political statement."
‒Variety
"An uncompromising look into the once taboo subject."
‒New York Post
"One of the most controversial of such traditional practices is ‘female circumcision,’ known by other names including ‘female genital mutilation’ as well as by specific technical terms like excision or infibulation (depending on the exact operation performed). “Fire Eyes” is an impassioned and artistic presentation of the topic, featuring African women and men talking about their experiences and values, as well as poetic touches like modern dances and masks."
‒Jack David Eller, Anthropological Review
Association for Women in Psychology, 1995
Sundance Film Festival, 1994
Berlin Film Festival, 1994
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, 1994
New York African Film Festival, 1994
Sundance Film Festival, 1994
Berlin Film Festival, 1994
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, 1994
New York African Film Festival, 1994
