Dilveen
Individual Write-up
The Topic
When looking for the documentary to use for this project, I explored the website of CBC Short Docs and came across Dilveen. I began to skim the summary of the documentary and saw the keywords, "kidnapping", "ISIS", and "Syria". Instantly, I was drawn to the documentary and pitched it to my group members.
In terms of preferable content, I have an interest in watching forms of media which relate to world issues, social issues, activism, and crime. This is mainly due to the controversial conversations each of these topics initiates, which is something I like to partake in. With Dilveen, there is clearly a sense of terrorism, and corruption within governments which drew me to the video. I also wished to obtain a greater understanding of the situation in Syria which is why I found this documentary to be worthwhile.
Most Compelling Scene
- Showed Dilveen's bravery
- Risked getting caught
- Getting beaten
- Could've worsened own situation
- Protected all the other girls in the home
- Found a way to escape
- Persisted until she was free
Personal Beliefs and Values
Many topics and social issues were presented in this documentary and to all, there are conflicting standpoints. As a result of my upbringing and developing education, I have my own beliefs and values regarding each of the following issues.
ISIS
- Terrorist group which claims to be preaching Islam
- Violent approach, radicalism
- Public executions
- Use Yazidi's as slaves
- Abducting and killing innocent lives
- Attacked Dilveen's family and community for being Yazidi
- Shot her father
- Kidnapped her
Personal View:
- Against violence and war
- Need unity amongst different ethnicities
- Cannot use people as slaves
- Every human is an equal
- Discrimination and genocide based is inhumane
- Everyone has a right to their own beliefs
Child Marriage
- Forcing a child into marriage with an older individual
- Mainly girls marrying older men
- Can be kidnapped and forced
- Sometimes poor families marry daughters to obtain money
- Don't have enough money to feed the child
- Dilveen sold and married to a 65-year-old man
- Beaten for refusing
Person View:
- Children should not be married
- Child needs education
- Not in a mentality to be married
- Still naive
- Violation of human rights
- Often abused, raped by spouse
- Unable to speak to say no
- Gender inequality, view girls as burdens
Polygamy
- A custom of having more than one wife
- Seen as a cultural issue
- Dilveen married to man with a wife
- Created tension between two
- Husband would scold one to benefit the other
Personal View:
- Gender inequality
- Women seen as objects to collect
- Forced relationships
- Are not valued
- No benefit for the women, no say
- Believe in one husband, one wife
- Goes against my culture and religion
- Taught relationships is a two bodies and one soul phenomenon
Did ISIS have a particular motive for shooting her father?
In the documentary, we learn that a member of ISIS had tied up her father and shot him. However, it is not explained as to whether this was done as a scare tactic or if the members knew of him beforehand.
Where were Dilveen's Mother and sister taken?
Dilveen is kidnapped and taken to a compound in Mosul, but where did her mother and sister go? How did they find Dilveen's uncle?
How many girls escaped successfully?
Dilveen mentions that she was the first to flee but she does not mention whether or not any girls left with her.
Did the other girls find a sanctuary?
If any of the girls did escape, did they do so safely? Did any of the girls join Dilveen and her uncle or did they all go their separate ways?
The Presentation of the Documentary
The documentary is presented without a bias as it describes one girl's journey to freedom. Dilveen retells the tragic events that took place as she was kidnapped, sold and abused by ISIS. The documentary is narrated entirely in Dilveen's perspective as it is her providing viewers with a summary of what she went through. It is solely created to describe her journey which would require only her voice within the documentary. As it is her story, there is no room for bias or other perspectives. However, it could have been helpful to get the perspective of her mother and uncle to understand what they were going through while Dilveen was gone.
Effectiveness
I believe that this documentary was very effective in terms of presenting the desired story and attracting the audience. The issue itself is compelling, yet the use of animations and storytelling add a greater realism to the documentary. As a viewer, I was intrigued by Dilveen's story but also by the production of the documentary itself. When watching, I was able to feel and envision the horrors Dilveen described, keeping me interested when viewing it.
What it means to be human?
Fears
- Possessed by all
- Must learn to face and overcome them
- Dilveen did so when mixing sleeping pills with the tea
- Feared getting caught
- Stayed strong for the other girls
Taking Risks
- Must do so in order to achieve your goals
- Risked getting caught
- Risked being abused
- Escaped
Accepting Change
- Came to Canada
- Wasn't accustomed to the lifestyle
- Knows it is for the best
- Safer
- Beneficial for family