Rida: My Story About Women & Personal Freedoms

Gr 8 Up—This series features diverse teenagers sharing short, snappy stories, each describing a personal decision that changed the direction of their lives. Rida, born in Pakistan but living in Australia since age 11, discusses the dilemma of attending school in a Western society while constrained by traditional cultural values. At school, her opinions were valued, while at home, she notes, "When my brother expressed views, it was perceived as being intelligent. When I expressed views, it was perceived as being disobedient." As she narrates, Rida sketches white board drawings that capture her feelings even better than words; here she sketches herself in a birdcage. At age 16, when told she was being sent back to Pakistan, she refused, and after verbal and physical abuse, she called the police. Chastised for bringing dishonor to the family, she packed her school bag and left home, scared and unprepared. In the end, we see Rida hosting a radio show, studying art education with the help of seven scholarships and visiting her family in Pakistan after 18 months on her own. Unfortunately, the film gives short shrift to the difficulties she must have faced after leaving home.