Ska speaks against GBV through film
By Letwin Mubonesi
Social entrepreneur, Skanyisiwe “Ska” Sebata continues to make waves in the film industry with her short film titled ‘Her: A disintegrated Notion’ which was recently featured by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) platform on World Aids Day commemorations for this year.
The platform gives young women the opportunity to speak against HIV and GBV under an initiative called Education Plus.
The five-minute film, directed by Ska and produced by Dexter Fundire, showcases models in inventive garments and make-up to deliver a powerful message against gender-based violence (GBV).
The cast include models Patra Mathe and Abigirl Nyathi, Stephan Wabaya, Claude Ricke who did the score and Charity Hutete, who did the voice over.
The film highlights issues of maternal mortality, HIV Aids, lower incomes and job security, and under-representation in decision making positions in spite of women making up 52 percent of the country’s population.
Ska said through living in rural areas, she witnessed a number of inequalities on a daily basis because of the patriarchy system that was prevalent.
She said, “It was important for me to feature in the film the area (Mvutu Chiefdom of rural Victoria Falls) in which I live and operate in as well as involve the community.
“When shaping narratives, one cannot do so without involving those that are being spoken of. I hope that the film gives some direction on how women can be empowered within a Zimbabwean and African context.”
The film centres on women from production, to casting and storytelling and showcases women speaking up telling their own stories instead of being spoken for.
The opening scene of the film reveals a defiant young woman in a multicolored ball gown staring through the camera at the audience.
A young man then joins the woman and together they enact domestic scenes of strife leading to conflict that ends in violence.
Another young woman joins the couple thereby extending the narrative.
Violence is suggested by gestures that would not trigger survivors of such violence and abuse to relive the trauma.
The film was shot between a pastoral background, and dumpsite that also shows the environmental degradation.
While some campaigns against GBV are based on the premise that women need to be protected, with slogans directed towards men underscored by images of bruised, bandaged, and tearful women, Ska’s approach however, is positive, affirmative, and empowering hence the film is a fine example of perceptive cultural productions that can have a positive impact and contribute to genuine progress.
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