Phnom Penh & Cinema: "The Light Of Women", the women of the Peul people in the spotlight

In the "World in Motion" section, the documentary film "The Light Of Women" (2023) by Elise Darblay and Antoine DEPEYRE was shown for the first time in an Asian country at the Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF).

Official poster of the film "The Light Of Women" by Elise Darblay and Antoine Depeyre

"The Light Of Women", the women who shine the light that humanity needs

Diving into the villages of Senegal, from Madi An Dou, to Wendou Doby, via the village of Bittel, and Kouroukaran, I set off to meet women as valiant as they are determined for seventy-six minutes.

This documentary explores the empowerment of Peul women in a culture where they are not allowed to leave their villages. I met Néné, Mariame, Haby, Aïssata, Hawa, Fati, Fatima and Maïmouna on their journey to Doubab Dialao, south of Dakar.

For several months, these women have been undergoing training to learn more about solar energy and install electricity in their villages. These women take us on a journey of determination with a natural and spontaneous sense of humour. Far from their villages and their daily lives, beyond their training as "solar mamas", they discover the thrill of dancing on the beach or raiding clothing markets.

They inspired me, made me laugh... Initially, the title translates as "the light of women" in French, but I would personally prefer to rename it "les femmes lumières". These women who, through their ingenuity, train for months on end far from their daily lives, but who are also real points of reference for their husbands and families in the villages. At the end of the screening, Elise Darblay and Antoine Depeyre were able to share more about their work in a question and answer session, where the audience was very enthusiastic and rather admiring.

Viewer enthused by the film during the question and answer session

The documentary film by Élise Darblay and Antoine Depeyre was inspired by the work and projects of the Indian NGO Barefoot College in Senegal.

"When we met the husbands in the villages, we were met with many refusals. The women didn't have to leave their community. We completely understood that, there was no taboo about talking about it, because it's rooted in their culture and we had to respect that", said Élise Darblay during the question and answer session.

Antoine DEPEYRE added: "Then we met Néné. She was the one who could break the codes. We didn't know how she could do it or why, but she was the only one who was aware of the differences between men and women and wanted to change things.

"Two of the women in the film came to Dakar with us to see it, and they cried a lot," says Élise Darblay.

Elise Darblay and Antoine DEPEYRE

It's a significant piece of filmmaking which, far beyond being a documentary, opens the door to new projects for these villages in Senegal.

https://federationstudios.com/is/the-light-of-women/