The agonies of war torn Africa are deeply etched in the bodies of women. In eastern Congo, vying militias, armies and bandits use rape as a weapon of terror. But voices of the soldiers and combatants have so far been absent in the accounts of this violence. This silence is problematic, both because it makes it harder to understand such violence, but also because it reinforces stereotypes of African warriors as primitive and anarchic, driven by innate violence and tribal hatred.
SPACES (City) OF JOY - Synopses
SPACES (City) of Joy – the raped women, their rapists & healers in Democratic Republic of Congo is a film aiming to search for meaning & understanding behind a decade-old epidemic of kidnapping, rape and torture, often carried out with impunity, by gangs of armed militias. Such atrocities leave survivors traumatized and isolated - shunned by society and their families, suffering lifelong health effects, including HIV/AIDS.
But perhaps the greatest tragedy, and danger, is that victims almost all remain silent about what they have suffered, too afraid and ashamed to speak out. As a result, the world is largely ignorant of their horrific plight and of the political conditions that allow it to continue.
The filmmakers aim to make encompassing interviews with victims young and old, self-confessed rapists, activists, U.N. peacekeepers, civilian & military judicial representatives, warfare rape-experts, healers, military leaders, soldiers, ex-combatants, and local law-enforcement officials. SPACES (City) of Joy is a film at once political and profoundly personal for Marius, who was forcefully conscripted into the apartheid army to fight and kill his own countryman in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia & Angola at the age of 18, and self a witness to rape.
SPACES (City) of Joy intends to challenge audiences to wonder what dark forces are at work in a world that has tolerated such atrocities without offering victims either solace or justice or the prosecution of perpetrators. Greed seems to be one factor; criminal groups appear to be fanning the flames of civil war to perpetuate instability in the region while they plunder eastern Congo's natural riches of diamonds, gold and coltan (a metal used in cell phones and laptops). It is viable to conclude that systematic rape is an effective way to destroy the fabric of society. Yet those in power, as well as powerful nations like the U.S, are doing little to prevent this outrage. "Is there something about sexual violence that makes us all turn away?". "In what inhuman context does rape become intentional, programmatic, a weapon of choice?”
Where are the voices of the women and men themselves? If they tell their stories, will others listen?" Is the truth healing? Are we ready to hear it? In understanding why this happen, will we be able to put an end to it? Can or will the perpetrators, the rapist atone for what they’ve done? Can they be forgiven? Is mutual atonement possible? Does converting to Christianity means impunity from atrocities committed? Is it enough to say you sorry, or do you have to show through your actions and way of life that you mean it and work to stop it from happening again? These are questions we intend to research.
Tuesday 2 April 2013
CURRENT UPDATES
After a period of fundraising Håkan Bjerking (EyeFeed AB) are producing and Peter Östlund DoP.
Currently shooting a pilot film in DRC Kivu Province.