“Investing in girls’ education is the very best thing that we can do, not just for our daughters and granddaughters, but for their families, their communities, and their countries,” says Michelle Obama. Girls’ education is an indispensable issue, which couldn’t be ignored by cinema as well.
“Cinema has an incredible capacity to move people to social change, to address the issue, to inspire social revolution,” says Eve Ensler. Several films have portrayed powerful female characters, inspiring and hard-hitting tales of their bravery, determination, and meaningful lessons. They are a source of inspiration and empowerment for girls to rise, resist, raise their voice against gender bigotry. Thus, cinema, with its unparalleled reach and a rare power to inspire, educate, enlighten, inform, influence, and persuade, has become a catalyst of social change.
Below I have curated a list of five movies that sensitively address the issue of girls’ education and empowerment. Although the stories are different, there are a few common things, a brave and resilient girl, challenges and obstacles, and the will to succeed.
Nil Battey Sannata (2015)
The film is directed by Ashwini Iyer Tiwari and revolves around a domestic worker Chanda Sahay, played by Swara Bhaskar, and her daughter Apeksha. Chanda is a high-school dropout domestic worker and single mother who wants her daughter to study and achieve success. However, Apeksha dislikes studying and feels her education is futile because of their financial status and declares, “Doctor ka beta doctor, engineer ka beta engineer, toh bai ki beti bai hi banegi na.”
However, Chanda is a fighter and finds a solution to motivate her daughter to join her school. She joins her class, becomes a favourite in school, and promises to quit if Apeksha manages to beat her in maths. They together battle with maths, which is very entertaining to watch.
Thus, Nil Battey Sannata is an unconventional and heart-touching film, the kind that will bring tears but leave a smile. The movie stands out because of its innocence, wit, and simplicity. It is a must-watch if you like unpretentious stories.
Secret Superstar (2017)
“Sapnon ke bina kisi cheez ka point nahi hota hai. Na sona ka, na jagne ka, na jeena ka, na marne ka. Sapne dekhna toh basic hota hai. Itna toh sabko allowed hona chahiye“, said Insia, played by Zaira Wasim. Secret Superstar is directed by Advait Chandan and narrates the story of a 15-year old Muslim girl who aspires to be a singer. The movie revolves around the girl fighting for her own identity while resisting an orthodox and oppressive father.
It highlights the problems of gender inequality, patriarchy, and domestic violence. Finally, Insia relentlessly fulfils her dream of becoming a singer. Her story is gripping, and it inspires girls to dare to dream and follow it with conviction and belief that nothing is impossible.
Brave Girl Rising (2019)
“One girl with courage can change the world“, reads the tagline of the movie. Brave Girl Rising is a short film written by Warsan Shire, a refugee from Somalia, created by nonprofit girl Rising in partnership with the International Rescue Committee. It impactfully conveys the plight of refugees affected by war, famine, and drought in the largest refugee camp in the world.
It revolves around Nasro, a 17-year-old girl who lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, and struggled immensely to survive in appalling conditions. She lacks access to basic services like food and water and a safe environment. But despite the challenges, she has always been determined to get an education and is relentless in pursuing her dreams. School is her lifeline and the sole hope for a happier future.
Nasro’s inspiring story of unwavering courage and determination empowers girls to believe in their dreams and pursue them wholeheartedly, even in the face of impediments. It teaches us a lesson that “Education is worth risking your life for“. Thus, this is a must-watch movie that will surely strike a chord.
He Named Me Malala (2015)
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world,” says Malala Yousafzai. He Named Me Malala is an American documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim, inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s novel ‘I am Malala’.
The film features the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, who had raised her voice for girls’ rights, especially the right to education. Unfortunately, she was shot by the Taliban in 2012, as they opposed girls’ education. However, she miraculously survived and has continued her activism ever since.
The documentary narrates Malala’s life story while also highlighting the broader global issue of girls being deprived of education. It captures Malala’s everyday life as both a teenager and a global activist by following her around her home, school, television interviews, and international summits. There are also hard-hitting scenes like Malala’s emergency surgery in the UK after she was shot.
Malala’s bravery and courage are very inspiring and empowering for girls to live their lives fearlessly and raise their voices against injustice. Thus, this film is very relevant, gives a powerful message, nurtures hope, and leaves a long-lasting impact on society.
To Educate A Girl (2010)
In 2010, Filmmakers Frederick Rendina and Oren Rudavsky travelled to Nepal and Uganda, two countries grappling with conflict and poverty, to find the answer to one question: What does it take to educate a girl? Created under the United Nations global initiative to provide equal access to education for girls by 2015, To Educate A Girl takes a grassroots level view of that initiative through the stories of girls out of school or battling to stay in school.
In Nepal, Manisha, a teenager who works on the farms while her three younger sisters attend school, is contrasted by the young listeners of a famous youth-oriented radio program. It highlights how the program has motivated and enabled them to battle with issues of early marriage and poverty to continue their education.
In Uganda, the film presented Mercy, the six-year-old daughter of a destitute single mother who is set to begin her first day of school, and Sarah, a teenage war orphan who has a tragic past but still manages to study.
The film highlights the grassroots efforts to enable girls to get a decent education, from door-to-door campaigns in Nepal to the ‘back to school’ march in Uganda. To Educate a Girl is an inspiring and thought-provoking film that beautifully portrays the lives of young women striving to fulfil their dreams against conflict, poverty, and gender bias.
Thus, cinema is more than entertainment; it inspires girls to follow their dreams and courageously confront society. And, it has become an impactful advocate of girls’ education and is compelling society to question patriarchal mindsets and paving the way for an inclusive and progressive society.
The author is a Kaksha Correspondent as a part of writers’ training program under Kaksha Crisis.