MARIAM Film and Discussion at Southury Public Library on June 9

 The Alliance Française of Northwestern CT invites the public to attend a special screening of “MARIAM,” a film portrait of the coming of age of a Muslim teenage girl on Thursday, June 9 at 7 pm at the Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Road.

Written and directed by Faiza Ambah, a Saudi filmmaker with a background in journalism, the story is set in France in 2004, the year France passed a law banning religious symbols from public schools. Mariam is forced to choose between going to school or following her beliefs. The film, just 45 minutes long, will be shown in French with English subtitles.

According to Picture Motion, the promoters of the film, the film is entertaining and beautifully shot with a talented cast and an original score.  Major icons of Islam, like prayers and the hijab are “completely reimagined and re- envisioned [by the director] in a more realistic, intimate, and personal manner than we’re used to seeing in films and television news.”

Following the film, attendees are invited to stay for a discussion, in English, on the weighty themes presented in the film, including Islamophobia, standing up for one's beliefs and the diversity of the Muslim experience. To RSVP, please call 203-707-0710.

MARIAM was awarded the Special Jury Prize at 2015 Dubai International Film Festival, screened at UNESCO as part of the commemoration of the 2015 International Day of Peace.

The Alliance Française of Northwestern Connecticut is a non-profit organization that promotes the French language and the cultures of French-speaking countries. In addition to French language classes, programs include educational lectures, Ciné-Club, French conversation and book reading groups and holiday celebrations. For further information on upcoming programs, please visit their website at www.afnwct.org. 

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Submitted by Southbury, CT

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