“Women’s Month… We Watch By Their Choice”

March is the time when the world celebrates women’s achievements and highlights their issues and rights. The celebration of Women’s Month is associated with a long history of struggle and challenges. March 8th marks International Women’s Day, which originated in 1908 with a women’s demonstration in New York. Since then, this occasion has become an international day for women. Consequently, many countries have decided to extend the celebrations to include a whole month, during which the world reviews the achievements and challenges of women in various fields. Women’s Month aims to reaffirm and support demands for gender equality and to address issues such as violence against women and inequality of opportunities.

Therefore, in this segment of the Jesuit Cinema Club program for March, we present films chosen and presented by women from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Each of them selects a film that reflects, in some way, her experience as a woman in the society she grew up in or the subsequent societies she moved to and lived in. Following the screening, there will be a discussion between them and the audience about the film.

Synopsis: A directionless teenager, Susanna, is rushed to Claymoore, a mental institution, after a supposed suicide attempt. There, she befriends a group of troubled women who deeply influence her life.

The film received 11 nominations, most of which were for the performances of the lead actress and the supporting actress. It won 9 awards, including the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (Angelina Jolie). Additionally, the lead actress, Winona Ryder, also received multiple nominations for Best Actress at the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Golden Satellite Awards.

• Genre: Drama – Biography
• Production Country: United States of America
• Film Language: English
• (The film is accompanied by Arabic subtitles)
• Production Date: 1999
• Film Duration: 127 minutes

The film is chosen and presented by: Leena Kamal, 27 years old, of Sudanese origin, born and raised in Saudi Arabia, currently residing in Egypt. She works as a graphic and multimedia designer. She is interested in dancing, writing, cooking, and everything related to mental health.

“The reason behind my choice of this film for screening is its ability to portray various forms of mental illnesses with a kind of clarity and transparency, away from scare tactics or romanticism. And because Susanna’s struggle in accepting her reality and life is an experience that personally resonates with me.” – Leena Kamal

Jesuit Cinema Club program coordinated and presented by: Aly  Nagaty

Free admission without registration or prior booking.