Catalog

Educate, Entertain, Action!
ADB Review [ January - February 2004 ]

Director uses films to address difficult social issues

By Carolyn Dedolph (cdedolph@adb.org)
External Relations Specialist

DHAKA, BANGLADESH

Whether it’s infertility, HIV/AIDS, polygamy, prostitution, or arsenic poisoning, tackling tough social issues affecting women has become the mission of film director Nargis Akter.

“If it will help women, we definitely want to produce a film on the topic,” says the head of the nongovernment organization (NGO) FemCom and seasoned producer of 40 films.

Her approach to these difficult subjects is a novel one: educate while entertaining.

“We target women who do not know how to read or write. Films capture their attention,” Ms. Akter explains.

IN CHARGE Film Director Nargis Akter has social issues at the center of all her productions

Arsenic poisoning began to interest her as the magnitude of the problem began to unfold in the 1990s. Affecting up to 80 million Bangladeshis, the World Health Organization has described the naturally occurring arsenic as the “largest mass poisoning of a population in history.”

Arsenic poisoning—triggered by drinking arsenic-contaminated groundwater—causes vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, muscular pain, skin rashes, and swelling of the eyelids, feet, and hands. Ultimately, it affects the heart, lungs, and kidneys, and can be fatal.

In a country where arranged marriage is still the norm, the physical appearance of a woman is a crucial factor in making a marriage.

Symptoms of arsenic poisoning—especially skin rashes on the face—can ruin a woman’s chances of securing a husband.

So, Ms. Akter saw a need to educate the population on arsenic poisoning, available treatments, how to avoid the disease, and attitudes to those affected. The film Patal Purir Galpo (Water Blues) was the result, supported by a small grant from Asian Development Bank.

Far from a dry documentary, the film uses well-known actors and musicians to convey information to a broad audience—and boost its appeal.

“I can’t say this is a film only on arsenic poisoning because we incorporated love songs and drama,” she explains. The plot revolves around a couple prevented from marrying because the bride suffers from arsenic poisoning. But the ending is happy: she seeks medical care and they marry, knowledgeable about the disease and how to treat it.

Viewing of the film has been widespread, with the Bangladesh Television authority broadcasting the telefilm on its national media channel. NGOs continue to show the film on their in-house systems, and village committees present the film as a weekly movie on their battery-operated systems. An English-subtitled version was also produced for screening in other South Asian countries.

The enthusiastic response by audiences and the media, including television stations, shows the potential of this medium for achieving important social outcomes.

Email this to a friend