Thursday, August 18, 2022
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
flickfeast
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute
  • Submissions
    • Advertise on Flickfeast
    • Submit a Film
No Result
View All Result
FLICKFEAST
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews Film Review

Rafea: Solar Mama (2012)

Abbie Saunders by Abbie Saunders
November 17, 2013
in Film Review
14
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mona Eldaief’s and Jehane Noujaim’s documentary film Rafea: Solar Mama was given pride of place at this year’s Aldeburgh Documentary Film Festival. The broadcast was made even more special by the guest appearance of executive producer Nick Fraser, who spoke about the film in an exclusive question and answer session with Mary Ann Sieghart following the screening.

Nick Fraser’s remark that good documentaries do not reduce human lives to objects rings true of Rafea: Solar Mama. It is touching, haunting, and humorous, all of which are qualities determined by the fact that the film is ultimately personable.

You might also like

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

EIFF 2022: LOLA (2022) – Film Review

1163205_rafea-solar-mama

It tracks the story of one woman from a poverty-stricken community in a Jordanian village. She is approached and taken to Barefoot College in India in order to train as a solar engineer.

IL_SolarMamas_t614

The film is so successful as a documentary due to its honesty. It does not attempt to give an international overview of world poverty, nor a general polemic about women’s role in small communities, nor even about women from disadvantaged communities partaking in education. The focus upon Rafea, her family, and her purpose makes it a very human story.

IL_SolarMamas_classroom_t700

The ultimate challenge is to engage in empathy with a total stranger from a peripheral and poverty-stricken area, but Eldaief’s and Noujaim’s film does so successfully. Fraser goes on to disclose that the directors returned to edit the film with a total of 400 hours of footage – none of which was scripted, rehearsed, or even planned. All it takes is for one person to ask another ‘how does this make you feel?’ for this documentary to communicate to people.

Joradn-India-room

In the face of adversity, Rafea proves herself again and again, inverting preconceived notions about women’s role in the home and with the family by succeeding as a solar engineer – exceeding her husband’s professional capabilities – and providing a home for herself and her daughters. Rafea’s journey is as inspiring as it is insightful, a truly personable human story about a woman who faces up to poverty and gender constraints, and achieves her dream.

SolarMamas_RafeaKids_t700

Directors: Mona Eldaief, Jehane Noujaim
Stars: Abu Badr, Umm Badr, Raouf Dabbas
Runtime: 75 min
Country: USA, Denmark, Egypt

Film Rating: ★★★★☆

Tags: Aldeburgh DocFestdocumentaryDocumentary Film Festivalfilm festivalJehane NoujaimMona EldaiefRafea: Solar Mama
Abbie Saunders

Abbie Saunders

Related Posts

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 17, 2022
EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 16, 2022
EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: LOLA (2022) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 15, 2022
EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review

by Dallas King
August 15, 2022
The Feast
Film Review

The Feast (2022) – Film Review

by William Stottor
August 17, 2022

Recommended

Aquarela (2018) Film Review

Aquarela (2018) Film Review

November 15, 2019

Devil’s Crossing (2011)

January 24, 2012

Don't miss it

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Full Time (A Plein Temps) – Film Review

August 17, 2022
EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Flux Gourmet (2022) – Film Review

August 16, 2022
EIFF 2022: Special Delivery (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: LOLA (2022) – Film Review

August 15, 2022
EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Millie Lies Low (2021) – Film Review

August 15, 2022
The Feast
Film Review

The Feast (2022) – Film Review

August 17, 2022
EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review
Festivals

EIFF 2022: Resurrection (2022) – Film Review

August 14, 2022
flickfeast

Whetting your appetite for cinema with the best film reviews and features since 2009

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Festivals
  • FrightFeast
  • Spotlight
  • Contribute

© Copyright - flickfeast. All Rights Reserved.

Posting....