Transmitting the Voices of Maghrebi Women through Feature Films

Abstract

This chapter analyzes how the experiences of Maghrebi migrant women in France are conveyed through feature films and considers the extent to which these films encourage spectators to come to a better understanding of the women’s experiences and appreciate their respective points of view. It analyzes a wide range of techniques used in the films, from those that could be considered the most ‘verbal’ in the traditional sense of the word (such as interior monologue voiceover and verbal exchanges) to those that are entirely non-verbal (including body language and non-verbal sounds). While the spoken words of first-generation women have the potential to provide significant insight into the women’s experiences, this is not always the case, nor do a woman’s words necessarily invite spectators to identify with her point of view. Words also have the potential to be misunderstood or not understood at all – for example, when there is a language barrier – and this can inhibit communication. Non-verbal tools can provide an effective channel through which the women’s voices can be communicated, regardless of differences in age, language, or culture between the characters and the implied spectators. Works examined include films by Yamina Benguigui, Mehdi Charef, and Bourlem Guerdjou.